PERCIVAL   LOWELL 

AN  AFTERGLOW 


BY 

LOUISE  LEONARD 

Member  of  the  Societe  Astronomique  de  France; 

Honorary  member  of  the  Sociedad 

Astronomica  de  Mexico 


BOSTON 
RICHARD  G.  BADGER 

THE   GORHAM   PRESS 


COPYRIGHT,  1921,  BY  RICHARD  G.  BADGER 


All  Rights  Reserved 


Made  in  the  United  States  of  America 


The  Gorham  Press,  Boston,  U.  S.  A. 


CA 


Preambient  light — 
Waning,  lingers  long 
Ere  lost  within. 
Just,  kind,  masterful. 
Life's  sweet  constant, 
Farewell. 


454509 


Land  that  lie  loved,  that  loved  him!  nevermore 
Meadow  of  thine,  smooth  lawn  or  wild  sea-shore, 
Gardens  of  odorous  bloom  and  tremulous  fruit, 
Or  woodlands  old,  like  Druid  couches  spread, 
The  master's  feet  shall  tread. 
Death's  little  rift  hath  rent  the  faultless  lute: 
The  singer  of  undying  songs  is  dead. 

He  hath  fared  forth,  beyond  these  suns  and  showers. 
For  us,  the  autumn  glow,  the  autumn  flame, 
And  soon  the  winter  silence  shall  be  ours: 
Him  the  eternal  spring  of  fadeless  fame 
Crowns  with  no  mortal  flowers. 

He  hath  returned  to  regions  whence  he  came, 

Him  doth  the  spirit  divine 

Of  universal  loveliness  reclaim. 

All  nature  is  his  shrine. 

Seek  him  henceforward  m  the  wind  and  sea, 

In  earths  and  air's  emotion  or  repose, 

In  every  star's  august  serenity, 

And  in  the  rapture  of  the  flaming  rose. 

There  seek  him  if  ye  would  not  seek  in  vam, 

There,  in  the  rhythm  and  music  of  the  Whole; 

Yea,  and  forever  in  the  human  soul 

Made  stronger  and  more  beauteous  by  his  strain. 

WILLIAM  WATSON 


FOREWORD 

THE  personal  tribute  borne  on  the  pages  of 
this  character  sketch  is  given  a  sub-title 
which    attracts    me   as    a   happily   chosen 
metaphor  of  description.     I  have  seen  an  Alpine 
peak  disappear  with  the  fading  of  day,  but  soon 
coming  into  light  again  in  the  deepening  evening, 
radiant  with  cherished  light.    Percival  Lowell  was 
among  men  as  of  the  heights,  and,  as  here,  memory 
of  him  endures. 

Dr.  Lowell,  especially  in  the  latter  part  of  his 
aspiring  life,  became  a  notable  pioneer  in  the  ad- 
vance of  astronomical  science;  and,  through  his 
daring  ventures  in  planetary  study,  he  made  gains 
which  competent  scholars  believe  are  of  the  highest 
value  for  man  in  his  study  of  the  universe.  When 
I  began  my  acquaintance  with  him,  in  Japan,  many 
years  ago,  Dr.  Lowell's  mental  quest  was  impelled 
in  various  directions,  particularly  into  psychologi- 
cal interpretations  of  the  Oriental  folk  among 
whom  we  were  both  resident.  Already  he  had  pub- 
lished his  profound  research,  "The  Soul  of  the 
Far  East";  his  "Esoteric  Shinto"  was  then  in  the 
making.  But  even  at  that  time  he  had  been  led 
far  forward  under  the  later  master-interest  of  his 
life.  His  characteristic  longing  to  know  and  to  in- 
terpret the  dynamic  and  vital  evolution  of  other 

7 


Foreword 


worlds  than  this,  our  earth,  had  begun  to  dom- 
inate his  studies.  Soon  he  was  practically  en- 
grossed by  the  investigations  thereby  opened  to 
him,  and  his  memorable  achievements  were,  in  quick 
succession,  gained. 

In  the  tribute  which  here  follows,  no  attempt  has 
been  made  to  portray  Dr.  Lowell  definitely  in  his 
distinction  as  a  commanding  scholar  and  far-ven- 
turing astronomical  scientist.  That  distinction  is  ac- 
cepted as  fact  by  the  writer  who  was  for  a  long 
time  in  Dr.  Lowell's  chosen  work,  closely  asso- 
ciated with  him  in  carrying  it  onward.  In  this 
tribute  are  given  glimpses  of  what  Dr.  Lowell  was 
as  an  individual,  human  personality ;  in  effect,  here 
is  an  "afterglow,"  from  what  may  be  termed  a 
vie  intime.  Notes  of  his  personal  moods  and  habits 
have  been  chosen  to  recall  his  specific  individuality : 
various  characterizing  anecdotes  are  remembered; 
memories  of  his  loving  studies  of  the  minor  things 
of  nature;  crystals,  plants  and  trees,  insects  and 
birds  and  other  animate  creatures  which  were  an  in- 
cessant playtime  stimulus  to  his  curiosity,  are  col- 
lected. The  writer  has  also  added  to  her  memorial 
tribute  many  quotations  from  characteristic  let- 
ters, that  these  may  give  a  yet  nearer  understanding 
of  Dr.  Lowell,  both  as  a  genius  in  science  and  as  a 
man  of  affairs.  In  this  tribute,  I  am  confident, 
there  is  much  to  make  more  real  and  to  confirm  the 
admiration  of  many  who  have  read  Percival  Low- 
ell's various  books,  or  who  were  privileged  to  listen 

8 


Foreword 


to  his  brilliant  lectures  on  planetology  in  general, 
and,  especially,  upon  the  constitution  and  life  of 
our  Earth's  near  celestial  neighbor,  Mars. 

But  I  must  not  trespass  upon  the  domain  which 
Miss  Leonard's  tribute  well  covers.  I  will  only 
say  further  that  I  am  much  gratified  that  this  trib- 
ute has  been  offered.  For  many  years  not  only 
have  I  admired  Percival  Lowell's  rare  mental  force 
and  radiance,  but  many  times  have  been  privileged 
to  know  the  excellence  of  his  geniality  and  gener- 
osity as  they  marked  his  fine  every-day  living. 

With  much  pleasure  I  welcome  this  memorial; 
and  I  feel  highly  favored  in  writing  for  it  this  note 
of  introduction. 

CLAY  MACCAULEY. 


9 


CONTENTS 

PAGI 

PRELUDE        .....••••        19 
QUOTATIONS  .....•••       45 

CHARACTERISTIC  NOTES  FROM  LETTERS  .         .         .         .51 


11 


LIST  OF  ILLUSTRATIONS 

Percival  Lowell,  taken  in  London  in  1914,  at  the  Out- 
break of  the  War Frontispiece 

PAGE 

"A  Silly- Wet  Day" 22 

As  a  Harvard  Student 24 

His  Last  Harvest .30 

The  San  Francisco  Peaks 32 

The  Telescope  Here  Worked  Day  and  Night       .         .  40 

In  His  Japanese  Garden — Tokyo         ....  46 

Library   Chimney-Corner — Flagstaff      ....  54 

Percival  Lowell — 1908 60 

His  Bungalow,  after  Jane  Peterson— Artist          .         .  70 

What  is  the  Time  o'Day? 80 

With  His  Japanese  Iris — In  the  Arizona  Desert    .         .  84 

His  First  Telescope  Honorably  Discharged    ...  94 

In  the  Study  Window— Flagstaff          ....  98 

Lowell  Observatory   Eclipse  Trip  to   Tripoli — Setting 

Up 102 

Percival  Lowell,  L.L.D 106 

Oak  Tree  and  Its  Big  Brother— the  Pine  in  Front  of 

the  B.  M.  ("Baronial  Mansion")    ....  124 


13 


PREFACE 

THE  purpose  of  this  book  is  to  portray 
Percival  Lowell  as  he  was  in  his  distinctive 
personality.  May  these  reflections  of  his 
spirit  bring  with  them  a  better  knowledge  of  the 
accomplishments  of  this  brilliant  and  unusual  man. 
May  they  be  an  incentive  to  a  more  intimate 
acquaintance  with  his  utterances. 

For  no  one  can  speak  more  truly  of  him  than  he 
spoke  of  himself  in  his  own  glowing  pages:  where 
are  depicted  his  brilliance,  wit  and  humour;  love 
of  nature  and  the  arts  of  the  world ;  love  of  travel ; 
and  his  first,  best  and  last  love, — love  of  science. 
Someone  has  said:  "He  had  attained  practically 
everything  worth  striving  for."  In  Science  he  had 
reached  his  goal. 

The  writer  has  not  attempted  to  manifest  her 
own  conception  of  Dr.  Lowell  but  she  has  allowed 
him,  through  the  medium  of  his  letters,  to  furnish 
the  picture  which  his  friends  and  compatriots  will 
recognize  as  the  real  Percival  Lowell.  She  asks 
nothing  more  than  to  be  thought  of  as  having  fur- 
nished merely  the  thread  on  which  his  pearls  are 
hung. 


15 


PERCIVAL  LOWELL 

AN  AFTERGLOW 


PRELUDE 


A  "MAN  of  moods,"  Dr.  Lowell  called  him- 
>elf ,  and  this  he  was,  as  the  writer  can  attest 
after  being  associated  with  him  in  his  work 
almost  daily  for  many  years.  He  changed  in  an 
instant  from  writing  sober  science  to  narrating  a 
telling  story  to  a  friend  who  happened  in,  taking 
the  keenest  interest  in  visiting  with  him  as  if  he  had 
nothing  else  to  occupy  his  mind.  The  masterly 
ease  with  which  he  wrote  of  astronomy  or  attended 
to  mundane  affairs  was  extraordinary.  At  Flag- 
staff he  would  often  leave  his  computations  for  a 
bit  of  exercise  on  the  mesa  to  explore  a  canon  near 
by.  In  the  midst  of  dining  he  might  be  impelled  to 
rush  to  his  dome  for  a  study  of  the  heavens;  also 
he  might  be  wakened  from  his  slumbers  at  the 
necromantic  hour  before  dawn  that  he  could  revel 
in  its  splendor  and  then  exclaim:  "I  have  been  so 
overcome  by  her  roseate  blush  of  surprised  confu- 
sion that  I  feel  like  an  impertinent  intruder  who 
would  better  have  waited  until  expected  by  the 
Sun."  In  such  ways  he  showed  his  marvellous  ver- 
satility in  work  and  mood. 


19 


Percival  Lowell 


II 


Dr.  Lowell  was  "a  charming  host" — as  his  friend 
Mr.  George  Agassiz  so  well  described  him  in  his 
beautiful  tribute.  "He  liked  to  have  people  come 
— and  he  liked  to  have  them  go!"  he  was  heard 
to  say  many  times.  He  cordially  greeted  people 
from  everywhere  at  his  mountain  home  and  was  so- 
licitous that  they  should  have  due  courtesies  given 
them  by  his  assistants  in  the  dome  and  by  the  serv- 
ants in  his  house.  He  was  pained  if  he  felt  that 
anyone  had  been  slighted — though  a  stranger  to 
him.  For  two  and  twenty  years  he  elicited  much 
acclaim  from  travellers  from  Asia  and  Europe, 
from  California  and  our  East,  who  visited  the  Ob- 
servatory as  they  passed  through  Flagstaff.  They 
all  became  conscious  that  he  felt  keenly  the  respon- 
sibility of  being  Director  and  their  host.  He  was 
simple  as  he  was  forceful;  and  yet  at  heart  he  was 
a  hermit.  Of  an  evening  one  usually  found  him 
alone  by  his  fireside  with  his  after-dinner  cigar,  or 
rather  cigars,  for  smoking  was  with  him  a  passion. 
Frequently,  he  smilingly  quoted  the  saying:  "The 
only  excuse  for  a  dinner  is  the  cigar  that  follows." 


20 


An  Afterglow 


III 


Possessed  of  splendid  enthusiasms  all  phases  of 
life  interested  him.  His  jocular  moods  were  de- 
lightful. The  following  extract  from  a  letter  re- 
ceived by  the  author  from  one  of  Dr.  Lowell's  Ox- 
ford friends  will  show  how  this  trait  of  the  many- 
sided  man  strongly  impressed  itself  upon  those 
about  him: — 

"...  I  well  remember  the  first  or  it  may  be 
the  second  time  he  was  at  this  house.  I  had  a  lot 
of  boys  here,  as  I  often  do,  lassoing  and  shooting 
in  the  garden,  and  the  eager  boyish  way  in  which 
he  joined  them  and  shot  and  ran  too,  and  the  echo 
of  his  laughter  as  he  did  it  is  one  of  the  pleasantest 
memories  of  the  garden  that  come  back  to  me.  Also, 
I  like  to  think  of  him  at  Flagstaff  and  the  very 
happy  fortnight  when  I  enjoyed  his  hospitality 
there.  Do  you  remember  how  we  all  tested  our  un- 
aided eyesight  on  the  big  advertisement  stuck  up  on 
the  side  of  a  drygoods  store  in  Flagstaff, — we  try- 
ing to  draw  it  from  the  outside  of  the  Observatory, 
and  not  verifying  it  with  the  telescope  till  we  each 
had  had  a  shot?" 

Driven  to  his  piazza  one  rainy  day  to  lunch,  be- 
cause of  alterations  in  the  dining  room,  he  jocosely 
named  the  picture  on  page  22 — taken  then — 
"A  Silly- Wet  Day!"  He  was  a  wit.  His  bon 
mots  kept  his  guests  in  laughter.  His  dinner 
stories  were  sans  pareils;  sans  reproches. 

21 


Perdval  Lowell 


At  one  time,  before  enclosing  the  Observatory 
grounds  at  Flagstaff,  cows,  horses  and  burros  from 
the  town  took  pleasure  in  coming  up  the  trail,  sheep 
fashion,  to  trespass  there:  much  to  the  annoyance 
of  the  Director.  To  an  English  servant,  he  had 
at  the  time,  he  said:  "Harry,  if  these  intruders 
come  up  again  get  out  your  shot-gun  and  pepper 
them."  Harry,  with  his  correct  manners,  promptly 
and  politely  replied,  "Yes,  sir."  Dr.  Lowell  forgot 
the  incident  until  the  next  day,  when  he  received 
a  telephone  message  from  the  owner  of  a  Jersey 
cow  that  his  servant  had  peppered  her  with  shot. 
This  literal  obedience  cost  Dr.  Lowell  several  dol- 
lars, but  he  treated  it  gaily. 


22 


'A  SILLY-WET  DAY' 


An  Afterglow 


IV 


His  best  friend  in  the  far  West  was  Judge  Ed- 
ward M.  Doe,  of  Flagstaff;  and  his  own  words: 
"We  insensibly  find  those  persons  congenial  whose 
ideas  resemble  ours,  and  gravitate  to  them  as  leaves 
on  a  pond  do  to  one  another,  nearer  and  nearer  un- 
til they  touch,"  are  exemplified  by  this  friendship. 
He  found  there,  in  the  wilds,  this  learned  gentle- 
man. And  his  greatest  delight  was  to  dine  with 
him,  picnic,  climb  the  mountains,  scan  the  canons, 
or  what  not,  and  discuss  at  large  with  him  subjects 
of  law.  Indeed  so  well  versed  was  Dr.  Lowell, 
legally,  that  an  outsider  overhearing  these  conver- 
sations would  have  thought  him  a  member  of  the 
bar  or  mistaken  him  for  a  judge  himself. 

Hundreds  of  people  have  felt  the  spell  of  Dr. 
Lowell's  personal  magnetism.  So  puissant  was  it 
that  his  presence  was  often  felt  even  before  he 
entered  the  room!  He  himself  has  said:  "About 
certain  people  there  exists  a  subtle  something  which 
leaves  its  impress  indelibly  upon  the  consciousness 
of  all  who  come  in  contact  with  them.  This  some- 
thing is  a  power,  but  a  power  of  so  indefinable  a 
description  that  we  beg  definition  by  calling  it  sim- 
ply the  personality  of  the  man.  It  is  not  a  matter 
of  subsequent  reasoning,  but  of  direct  perception. 
We  feel  it.  Sometimes  it  charms  us;  sometimes  it 
repels.  But  we  can  no  more  be  oblivious  to  it  than 
we  can  to  the  temperature  of  the  air.  Its  possessor 

23 


Percival  Lowell 


has  but  to  enter  the  room,  and  insensibly  we  are 
conscious  of  a  presence.  It  is  as  if  we  had  suddenly 
been  placed  in  a  field  of  a  magnetic  force."  This 
but  partially  portrays  his  own  personal  force;  and 
while  the  splendor  of  it  is  now  gone,  his  most  inti- 
mate friends  still  feel  the  charm  and  potency  of 
his  personality  persisting  adown  the  years. 


AS    A    HARVARD    STUDENT 


An  Afterglow 


His  mind  was,  it  is  said,  incomparably  brilliant. 
His  "mental  altitudes"  helped  make  the  name 
Lowell  illustrious.  Soon  after  his  graduation  from 
Harvard,  his  cousin,  James  Russell  Lowell,  spoke 
of  him  as  the  "most  brilliant  man  in  Boston"  and 
his  later  years  brought  only  a  fuller  flowering  of  his 
early  superior  genius.  His  books  have  been  trans- 
lated into  foreign  languages,  including  even  Chi- 
nese. And  in  his  lectures:  in  these,  as  through  a 
rift  in  the  clouds  like  a  star,  he  shone,  while  his 
audiences  sat  spellbound.  He  was  a  marvel  to  those 
who  heard  him.  Many  will  remember  that  in  his 
last  lecture  course  before  the  Lowell  Institute  in 
Boston  (later  crystallized  into  permanent  form), 
standing  room  was  nil,  and  demands  for  admission 
were  so  numerous  and  insistent  that  repetitions  were 
arranged  for  the  evenings.  At  these  repeated  lec- 
tures the  streets  near  by  were  filled  with  motors  and 
carriages  as  if  it  were  grand  opera  night !  At  the 
termination  of  this  magnificent  course  there  ap- 
peared in  the  Boston  Transcript  "Percival  Lowell's 
Q.  E.  D."  in  which  the  writer  said:  "Lowell's 
lectures  on  Mars  are  among  the  most  memorable 
ever  delivered  at  that  Institute,  bearing  his  family 
name,  which  has  commanded  the  services  of  the 
most  eminent  of  the  world's  scholars  in  all  lines 
of  thought  and  research.  He  has  bridged  the  gap 
which  astronomers  pointed  out  years  ago  in  his 

25 


Percival  Lowell 


revelations  concerning  Mars  between  the  condition 
of  habitability  and  that  of  being  inhabited.  .  .  . 
This  is  a  brave  and  brilliant  debut  for  the  new 
science,  or  rather  new  department  of  astronomy 
which  Professor  Lowell  has  named  'planetology,' 
and  which  is  to  concern  itself  rather  with  the  devel- 
opment and  life  of  the  planets  themselves  than  with 
their  external  relations,  their  place  in  a  system,  their 
period  of  revolution,  or  their  cosmic  origin  and 
destiny  in  the  scheme  of  the  universe.  Is  there  an- 
other planet,  however,  upon  which  there  is  any 
present  opportunity  to  pursue  planetological  stud- 
ies with  equal  facilities  and  the  probability  of  sim- 
ilarly brilliant  rewards?  With  Mars  the  deductions 
from  postulates  and  analogies  drawn  from  ter- 
restrial data  and  laws  could  be  confirmed  from  cer- 
tain visible  facts.  But  if  there  be  no  other  as 
promising  field,  Mr.  Lowell's  wisdom  in  concen- 
trating on  Mars  is  justified  the  more  and  the  thanks 
of  the  world  have  been  well  earned  by  his  devotion 
to  it."  A  fitting  appreciation  this  is  of  Dr.  Lowell's 
masterful  achievements. 

Another  writer  referred  to  a  page  in  his  "Mars" 
as  the  most  brilliant  one  in  literature.  He  said: 

"...  As  I  was  watching  the  planet,  I  saw  sud- 
denly two  points  like  stars  flash  out  in  the  midst 
of  the  polar  cap.  Dazzlingly  bright  upon  the  duller 
white  background  of  the  snow,  these  stars  shone 
for  a  few  moments  and  then  slowly  disappeared. 
The  seeing  at  the  time  was  very  good.  It  is  at  once 
evident  what  the  other-world  apparitions  were, — 

26 


An  Afterglow 


not  the  fabled  signal-lights  of  Martian  folk,  but  the 
glint  of  ice-slopes  flashing  for  a  moment  earthward 
as  the  rotation  of  the  planet  turned  the  slope  to  the 
proper  angle;  just  as,  in  sailing  by  some  glass-win- 
dowed house  near  set  of  sun,  you  shall  for  a  moment 
or  two  catch  a  dazzling  glint  of  glory  from  its 
panes,  which  then  vanishes  as  it  came.  But  though 
no  intelligence  lay  behind  the  action  of  these  lights, 
they  were  none  the  less  startling  for  being  Nature's 
own  flash-lights  across  one  hundred  millions  of 
miles  of  space.  It  had  taken  them  nine  minutes 
to  make  the  journey;  nine  minutes  before  they 
reached  the  Earth  they  had  ceased  to  be  on  Mars, 
and,  after  their  travel  of  one  hundred  millions  of 
miles,  found  to  note  them  but  one  watcher,  alone 
on  a  hilltop  with  the  dawn." 

Dr.  Lowell  lectured  abroad  also  with  distin- 
guished effect.  He  addressed  the  Royal  Institu- 
tion of  Great  Britain;  and  in  their  native  tongues 
spoke  to  large  audiences  in  Paris  and  Berlin.  In 
France  he  was  often  mistaken  for  a  Frenchman  so 
fluently  and  purely  did  he  use  the  nation's  lan- 
guage. He  was  also  at  home  in  Korea  and  Japan 
where  he  spoke  and  wrote  with  comparative  ease 
the  complicated  speech  of  these  Oriental  lands. 
Students  of  his  books  on  Japan  are  much  impressed 
by  his  acquaintance  with  the  psychology  of  the 
Japanese  people.  He  had  what  may  be  named  a 
unique  faculty,  that  of  being  able  to  free  himself 
for  the  nonce  from  his  own  Western  culture,  and 
superposing  it — if  you  will — upon  the  mysticism 

27 


Percival  Lowell 


of  the  Far  East.  He  was,  if  one  may  be  forgiven 
for  putting  it  in  that  form,  the  "missing  link"  which 
connected  and  organically  related  the  Soul  of  the 
West  with  the  Soul  of  the  East. 

Dr.  Lowell  was  fifty  years  ahead  of  his  time  as 
will  be  realized  in  later  years  by  the  young  people 
who  heard  him  lecture,  and  who  studied  the  Lowell 
Observatory  Exhibits  of  explorations  of  the 
heavens  at  Flagstaff.  These  exhibits,  on  transpar- 
encies, illuminated  by  transmitted  light,  were  shown 
by  invitation  at  centres  of  education  like  the  Ameri- 
can Museum  of  Natural  History;  Princeton  Uni- 
versity; Vassar  College;  the  Boston  Public  Li- 
brary ;  Brown  University  and  elsewhere,  where  they 
aroused  the  enthusiasm  of  thousands  of  visitors. 

These  exhibits  were  not  only  beautiful  but  won- 
derful. They  represented,  so  everyone  might  see, 
discoveries  which  could  be  made  only  at  Flagstaff. 
They  were  the  most  advanced  and  remarkable  ex- 
hibitions of  the  kind  that  the  world  had  ever  seen. 
Appreciated  as  this  was  by  the  older  public,  Dr. 
Lowell  believed  that  the  most  important  interest 
the  exhibit  could  gain  was  the  interest  of  youth. 
He  began  one  of  his  last  lectures  by  saying:  "The 
value  of  a  lecture  consists  not  so  much  in  the  body 
of  learning  it  may  be  able  to  impart  as  in  the  in- 
spiration it  gives  others  to  pursue  knowledge  for 
themselves.  Especially  is  this  true  when  the  lec- 
ture is  delivered  before  an  audience  of  youth.  For 
those  entering  upon  life  are  the  most  important 
hearers  a  lecturer  can  ever  address.  Youth  is  the 

28 


An  Afterglow 


period  of  possibilities.  Then  it  is  that  the  mind  is 
open,  plastic  to  impressions  which  at  the  same  time 
it  is  most  potent  to  retain.  .  .  . 

"Plasticity  of  mind  is  the  premise  to  possibility 
of  performance.  To  retain  it  longest  is  the  great  es- 
sential to  success.  For  the  ability  to  succeed  has 
been  defined  as  not  having  to  stop  till  you  get  there. 
In  this  more  than  in  any  other  one  quality  does  the 
great  man  differ  from  his  fellows:  in  the  gift  of 
perpetual  youth.  We  are  told  that  the  good  die 
young;  our  regret  being  father  to  the  thought. 
But  certain  it  is  that  the  great  die  young  even 
though  they  pass  the  Psalmist's  limit  of  three  score 
and  ten.  The  plasticity  of  their  mental  makeup  is 
the  elixir  of  life  poor  Ponce  de  Leon  sought  in  vain. 

"This  possibility  confronts  all  of  us  at  the  thresh- 
old of  our  career.  Not  that  we  are  all  born  with 
like  endowment  nor  that  we  all  can  attain  it  later. 
But  we  can  all  approach  nearer  our  goal  by  keeping 
it  constantly  before  us  through  the  procession  of 
the  years.  Especially  important  is  it,  then,  at  the 
start  to  set  one's  mind  and  ambition  on  that  which 
is  best.  In  the  trenchant,  if  trivial,  words  of  an 
Ivy  orator  of  years  ago  at  Harvard  to  his  class- 
mates: 'Fellows,  don't  be  content  to  sit  on  the 
fence ;  sit  on  the  roof.  And  remember  that  climb- 
ing there  does  not  safely  consist  in  leaps  and  bounds 
but  in  throwing  one's  heart  upward  and  then  per- 
sistently pursuing  it  step  by  step.' " 


29 


Percival  Lowell 


VI 


Dr.  Lowell  was  of  the  athletic  type  though  not 
devoted  to  sports.  At  one  time  he  owned  the  fast- 
est polo  pony  between  the  Atlantic  and  Pacific 
coasts.  He  was  fond  of  tennis  and  walking,  but 
averse  to  golf  and  motoring.  He  usually  took  a 
train  to  a  certain  point  where  his  motor  car  would 
meet  him  merely  to  transport  him  from  tree  to  tree 
that  he  might  pay  his  respects  to  the  oaks  and 
beeches  he  so  much  admired.  .  .  .  How  little  things 
entered  into  his  big  life  is  shown  in  his  seed  plant- 
ing with  its  results.  The  photographs  opposite 
picture  the  fruit  of  his  last  harvest  at  Flagstaff. 
Gourds  were  his  pets,  with  squashes  and  pumpkins 
a  close  second.  In  that  last  autumn  on  Mars'  Hill 
the  fruits  of  his  culture  would  worthily  have  graced 
a  thank-offering  to  the  gods. 


30 


HIS  LAST  HARVEST 


An  Afterglow 


Fi. 


-<Kvi.         .          j     <,«,  ,- 


rf     0t4«.&iy     a+,,/7,*      //t<S<a.*    ~4<*~*i,      / 


«/.  J 

~W*4e*       £*<      &***    /*»"    ^*6r       tf 

*      #*S    S6^    f    -&L 

v-t*  c*te£, 


31 


Percival  Lowell 


VII 


As  an  explorer  he  stood  on  the  tops  of  all  the 
mountain  peaks  that  came  his  way,  and  equally 
did  he  like  descending  to  the  abysms  of  canons. 
But,  indeed,  he  did  not  wait  for  the  mountains  to 
come  to  him ;  he  sought  them  in  the  remotest  corners 
of  the  earth ;  going  to  the  sacred  mountain  of  On- 
take in  Japan;  up  the  glaciers  of  the  Alps  and  over 
the  walls  and  chimneys  of  the  Pyrenees.  Speaking 
of  Ontake  and  the  pilgrim  clubs  peculiar  to  it,  he 
said: — 

"As  the  chant  swelled  it  sounded  like,  and  yet 
unlike,  some  fine  processional  of  the  Church  of 
Rome.  And  as  it  rolled  along,  it  touched  a  chord 
that  waked  again  the  vision  of  the  mountain,  and 
once  more  before  me  rose  Ontake,  and  I  saw  the 
long  file  of  pilgrims  tramping  steadily  up  the  slope. 

"Thus,  humble  though  their  active  members  be, 
the  Ontake  pilgrim  clubs  furnish  society  not  to  be 
found  in  any  other  clubs  on  earth;  the  company  of 
heaven  is  to  be  had  for  the  asking.  For  the  Ontake 
pilgrim  clubs  are  the  only  clubs  in  the  world  whose 
honorary  members  are,  not  naval  officers,  not  dis- 
tinguished foreigners,  not  princely  figureheads,  but 
gods." 

The  views  from  mountain  summits  enraptured 
him  and  the  zest  of  the  scenes  there  appealed  to  him 
greatly,  but  withal  he  was  often  on  botany  bent. 
The  planet  Mars  was  the  only  rival  to  his  botani- 

32 


THE    SAN    FRANCISCO    PEAKS 

Which  he  ascended  in  quest  of  trees 


An  Afterglow 


cal  love!  Study  of  the  trees  was  his  chief  delight 
in  his  tramps  afield.  In  a  book  in  manuscript  on 
"Peaks  and  Plateaux  in  the  Effect  on  Tree  Life," 
presented  to  the  writer  by  Dr.  Lowell,  he  shows 
a  deep  interest  and  an  unusual  knowledge  of  the 
subject.  This  is  an  account  of  his  ascent  of  the 
San  Francisco  Peaks,  of  Arizona,  in  quest  of  trees. 
He  found  them  aplenty  in  the  respective  zones 
which  he  has  thus  defined: — 

Douglas  Fir  at  8700  ft. 

Silver  "   ?  "  9350    " 

Cork  "  "  9480   " 

In  this  charming  fashion  he  describes  his  original 
observations: — "From  the  great  height  at  which  it 
first  appeared,  from  the  question  mark  given  the 
identification  at  the  time,  and  lastly  from  the  same 
doubt  expressing  itself  when  it  was  encountered 
upon  the  descent  upon  the  face  of  the  mountain, 
it  is  probable  that  the  supposed  Silver  Fir  was  Cork 
Fir  and  it  will  be  provisionally  considered.  The 
Cork  Fir  is  a  tree  of  high  habit,  intermediate  be- 
tween the  Fir  and  Spruce  zones  though  belonging 
properly  to  the  former.  This  surprising  and  truly 
spectacular  Fir  is  a  peculiarity  of  the  San  Fran- 
cisco Peaks  in  Arizona.  Relatively  so  unknown  is 
it  that  botanists  visiting  the  region  are  taken  to  it 
at  their  request  as  a  natural  curiosity  and  it  has 
not  yet  found  its  way  into  the  tree  books." 

It  is  noteworthy  that  some  trees  will  bear  eternal 

33 


Percival  Lowell 


A*~* 


34 


An  Afterglow 


~       41 


7*%**: 


35 


Percival  Lowell 


y^«^^ 


fe^*     AT~f**t 

2?Ue^      fat^tttZ. 


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w    ... 

/ "" 


ff 

36 


An  Afterglow 


to- 


S   ^ 


•K 

J    | 


37 


Percival  Lowell 


silent  witness  to  his  originality,  as  his  discoveries 
in  this  field  were  various  and  his  nomenclature 
unique.  From  the  trees  on  the  heights  he  charac- 
teristically jumped  to  the  flora  on  the  table-land 
below  as  he  himself  beautifully  expresses  on  the 
opposite  page.  He  found  a  new  Ash-tree  in  a 
canon  in  Arizona  which  will  bear  his  name.1 

In  all  parts  of  the  world,  nature  touched  him 
alike  from  the  Peaks  of  Arizona  to  the  Woods  of 
Fontainebleau  and  the  plum-trees  of  Korea. 

In  prose  writing  he  excelled.  In  poetry  he  at 
times  was  touched  with  the  Divine  fire.  The  fol- 
lowing is  a  sparkling  gem  of  that  which  even  great 
poets  might  be  proud  to  say  "this  is  mine  own." 
It  is  poetry  of  a  high  order.  It  follows  the  estab- 
lished rules  of  rhythm  and  rhyme  and  attains  its 
object  in  the  loveliest  and  simplest  measures.  It 
will  serve  to  show  one  of  the  varied  moods  that 
went  to  make  up  the  mentality  and  spiritual  es- 
sence of  Dr.  Lowell. 

"In  Fontainebleau,  whence  now  the  light  of  day 
Is  shut  by  oaks,  vast  glaciers  once  held  sway, 
In  undisputed  ice  their  lateral  moraines 
With  grasping  fingers  stretched  to  clutch  the  plains. 
Gone  all  are  now,  their  very  memory  sleeps 
Save  for  the  vigil  one  poor  mourner  keeps, 
The  falling  teardrop  of  the  'rock  that  weeps.' ' 

aSee  "Rhodora";  February,  1917.    Page  23. 

38 


An  Afterglow 


VIII 

It  will  readily  be  understood  that  the  question  of 
site  is  of  fundamental  importance  to  an  astronomer 
who  wishes  to  solve  the  mysteries  of  the  heavens. 
Dr.  Lowell  spared  neither  time  nor  money  to  meet 
this  need,  and  he  travelled  far  and  wide  in  search 
of  what  he  termed:  "the  best  procurable  air."  In 
Japan;  in  the  Maritime- Alps,  Algeria,  Mexico, 
California  and  Arizona,  he  diligently  searched. 
Finally  he  found  a  plateau  at  Flagstaff,  Arizona, 
at  an  altitude  of  about  7000  ft.,  which  he  discovered 
to  be  the  best  for  his  purpose.  In  this  rarefied  at- 
mosphere his  superb  24-inch  refractor  proved  to 
be,  according  to  the  Hartmann  test,  the  greatest 
space-penetrating  telescope  in  existence.  Under 
such  favoring  conditions  he  and  his  staff  could  ob- 
serve and  photograph  stars  fainter  than  any  ever 
before  brought  into  mortal  ken. 

Always  with  marvellous  accuracy  did  he  trans- 
cribe the  wonders  that  he  saw.  As  if  by  magic  they 
appeared  on  paper  from  his  pencil  and  brush,  rep- 
licas of  the  planets  themselves; — he  was  an  artist 
as  well  as  an  artisan. 

His  big  telescope  was  worked  day  and  night ;  and 
while  he  often  made  important  discoveries  by  day- 
light observation,  sentimentally  as  well  as  astro- 
nomically he  was  fonder  of  those  gained  at 
night.  He  liked  to  recall  the  fitting  words  of  his 
friend  and  colleague  M.  Camille  Flammarion: 

39 


Percival  Lowell 


"Sweet  hours  of  evening  do  not  flee  away!  We 
love  this  universal  calm  which  surrounds  Nature 
before  it  sleeps.  We  love  this  unchangeable  peace 
which  descends  from  the  rising  stars!  The  starry 
sky  which  lights  up  the  Earth  which  falls  asleep, 
these  are  the  spectacles  which  draw  us  away  from 
a  world  of  clamorous  passions — pleasures  of  the 
soul  which  we  enjoy  in  peace." 


THE    TELESCOPE    HERE    WORKED   DAY   AND    NIGHT 


An  Afterglow 


IX 


Dr.  Lowell  himself  has  said,  "How  little  the 
momentary  living  counts  with  the  actual  life" ;  but 
this  was  a  paradox,  for  with  him  every  moment 
counted.  He  was  indefatigable.  To  those  asso- 
ciated with  him  in  his  work  he  appeared  never  to 
withdraw  from  mathematics  and  astronomy — yet 
he  found  time  for  everything.  His  daily  motto  was 
"not  the  possible  but  the  impossible."  That  he 
could  indulge  in  and  accomplish  what  he  did  in 
so  short  a  life,  comparatively,  is  astounding.  In 
suggesting  that  anything  should  be  done,  even  a 
trivial  matter,  he  always  added  "at  once!"  Pro- 
crastination and  he  were  strangers.  When  he  be- 
thought himself  to  publish  an  essay  or  a  bulletin 
it  was  "no  sooner  said  than  done."  His  assistants 
were  swept  along  in  their  various  works  on  the 
crest  of  the  wave  of  his  enthusiasm.  He  was 
buoyant  with  strength,  ambition,  love,  sincerity,  no- 
bleness of  purpose,  in  fact,  all  that  is  highest  in 
life.  He  was  a  dynamic  force,  yet  gentle  as  a  child. 
Indeed,  his  strongest  characteristic  was  kindness 
of  heart.  Ever  on  the  alert  was  he  for  deeds  of 
kindness  and  for  unapplauded  service  to  his  fellow 
man. 

Instinctively  the  world  associates  him  with  the 
planet  Mars.  All  the  world  loves  the  man  of 
ideas  who  has  the  courage  of  his  convictions.  After 
continuous  research,  he  was  thoroughly  convinced 

41 


Percival  Lowell 


that  life  exists  on  Mars;  and  he  has  left,  for  us,  a 
full  record  of  his  reasons  for  so  thinking.  It  is 
not  essential  that  one  should  agree  with  him,  or 
have  his  point  of  view  in  order  to  enjoy  his  utter- 
ances. All  that  he  himself  would  have  asked  of 
his  readers  was  an  acknowledgment,  actual  or  vir- 
tual, of  his  honesty  of  purpose.  He  went  so  far 
as  to  say  in  his  final  lecture  tour  through  the  North- 
west:— "That  Mars  is  inhabited  we  have  absolute 
proof." 

His  successors  in  this  sublime  investigation  as- 
suredly will  be  guided  by  the  same  love  of  scientific 
truth  that  animated  him.  He  has  left  in  store  all 
the  material  resources  with  which  to  build  an  en- 
during monument.  Filled  by  the  warmth  of  his 
fire;  thrilled  by  his  achievements,  with  eye  single 
towards  the  discovery  of  "the  light  that  shifts,  the 
glare  that  drifts" — which  is  truth  itself — we  rest 
content  in  the  thought  that  those  who  follow  in  his 
field  will  keep  clear,  widen  and  extend  the  scientific 
trail  in  which  he  was  the  master-pioneer. 


42 


QUOTATIONS 


K»TOGOIOIOKaOIOK>aC*OtOIOK^^ 

UNTER  DEM  ALLERHOCHSTEN  PROTEKTORAT  § 
SEINER  MAJESTAT  DES  KONIGS  FRIEDRICH  5 
AUGUST  VON  SACHSEN 

INTERNATIONALE 

PHOTOGRAPHISCHE  AUSSTELLUNG  DRESDEN 
MCMIX 

ES  WIRD  HIERMIT  BEURKUNDET  /  DASS  DAS 
PREISGERICHT 

HERRN  DR.  PERCIVAL  LOWELL 
BOSTON 

DEN  EHRENPREIS 

ALS  HOCHSTE  AUSZEICHNUNG  FUR 
HERVORRAGENDE  LEISTUNGEN  ZUER- 
KANNTHAT./  DRESDEN,  SEPTEMBER  MCMIX 
DAS  AUSSTELLUNGS-DIREKTORIUM 


IrJCJi^nFCLHRER 


QUOTATIONS 

BEFORE  presenting  the  quotations  from  his 
letters,  these  tokens  of  appreciation  of  his 
genius  by  Dr.  Lowell's  contemporaries,  Pro- 
fessor Emeritus  Barrett  Wendell,  of  Harvard,  and 
the  late  Lafcadio  Hearn,  will  illuminate  them  and 
charm  the  reader.     In  a  letter  to  Dr.  Lowell,  from 
Japan,  Professor  Wendell  says: 

.  .  .  "You  have  been  in  my  mind  constantly 
through  these  last  few  weeks.  The  'Soul  of  the 
Far  East'  seemed  good  to  me,  when  I  first  read  it, 
years  ago.  How  wonderfully  good  it  is,  though, 
no  one  can  begin  to  know  who  has  not  been  brought 
face  to  face  with  the  bewildering  marvels  of  this 
utterly  different  world.  I  have  just  been  reading 
in  supplement,  Lafcadio  Hearn's  'Japan,'  which 
gives  your  brilliant  psychology  the  historical  set- 
ting almost  needful  to  bring  out  its  full  power.  As 
you  go  on,  I  reverence  more  and  more  such  power 
as  yours  of  doing  things  really.  If  you  had  never 
done  anything  but  this  excellent  trace  of  your  past, 
you  would  stay  among  those  who  will  never  be 
forgotten.  ..." 

(B.W.) 

Tokyo,  June  11,  '11. 


45 


Percival  Lowell 


In  a  published  correspondence  between  Mr. 
Hearn  and  his  friend  George  M.  Gould,  Esq.,  Mr. 
Gould  writes:  "Perhaps  I  should  not  have  suc- 
ceeded in  getting  Hearn  to  attempt  'Japan'  had  it 
not  been  for  a  little  book  that  fell  into  his  hands 
during  his  stay  with  me.  In  sending  it  to  me  he 
wrote : 

"  'Gooley!  ...  I  have  found  a  marvellous  book 
...  a  book  of  books!  ...  a  colossal,  splendid, 
godlike  book.  You  must  read  every  line  of  it. 
Tell  me  how  I  can  send  it.  For  heaven's  sake  don't 
skip  a  word  of  it.  The  book  is  called  "The  Soul  of 
the  Far  East"  but  its  title  is  smaller  than  its  im- 
print. 

"HEARNEYBOY. 

"  T.S. — Let  something  else  go  to  H ,  and 

read  this  book  instead.  May  God  eternally  bless 
and  infinitely  personalize  the  man  who  wrote  this 
book!  Please  don't  skip  one  solitary  line  of  it  and 
don't  delay  reading  it, — because  something,  much! 
is  going  to  go  out  of  it  into  your  heart  and  life  and 
stay  there!  I  have  just  finished  this  book  and  feel 
like  John  of  Patmos, — only  a  d — d  sight  better. 
He  who  shall  skip  one  word  of  this  book  let  his 
portion  be  cut  off  and  his  name  blotted  out  of  the 
Book  of  Life.' " 

Later  came  a  note  about  the  book  which  brought 
this  unalloyed  and  characteristic  touch : 

"The  man  who  wrote  'The  Soul  of  the  Far  East' 
and  'Choson'  is  nevertheless  an  accomplished  math- 

46 


IN    HIS   JAPANESE    GARDEN TOKYO 


An  Afterglow 


ematician.  But  you  will  notice  that  his  divine 
poetry  touches  only  that  which  no  scientific  knowl- 
edge can  explain, — that  which  no  mathematics  can 
solve, — that  which  must  remain  mysterious 
throughout  all  conceivable  space  and  time — the  flut- 
tering of  the  Human  Soul  in  its  chrysalis,  which  it 
at  once  hates  and  loves,  and  hates  because  it  loves, 
and  strives  to  burst  through,  and  still  fears  un- 
speakably to  break, — though  dimly  conscious  of 
the  infinite  ghostly  Peace  beyond." 


CHARACTERISTIC  NOTES  FROM 
LETTERS 


"Men  live  on  by  what  they  have  written  while 
they  are  alive." 

P.L. 


THE  QUOTATIONS  FROM  LETTERS 

A  COMPREHENSIVE  biography  of  Per- 
cival  Lowell  would  include  much  informa- 
tion concerning  his  many  sided  personality 
taken  from  his  correspondence.  As  a  scholar, 
scientist,  man  among  men  or  wise  observer  of 
things  and  events,  and  particularly  as  considerate 
friend  he  was  continually  disclosing  himself  in  let- 
ters and  impromptu  scribblings.  In  this  grouping 
no  effort  has  been  made  to  present  a  wide  gath- 
ering of  these  contributions : — only  excerpts,  from 
some  letters  which  the  writer  received  from  Dr. 
Lowell  in  the  course  of  a  long  association,  are  pre- 
sented. But  these  notes  are  valuable  as  expressing 
excellently  much  of  his  serious  thoughtfulness  and 
knowledge,  as  well  as  showing  some  of  his  peculiar 
pleasantries  of  fancy  and  his  varying  moods.  It 
has  seemed  desirable  to  add  these  quotations  with 
the  hope  that  they  may  aid  in  making  Dr.  Lowell's 
personality  more  distinct  in  the  light  of  his  own 
flowing  and  informal  phrasings. 

The  notes  quoted  are  in  chronological  order. 


51 


Perdval  Lowell 


SANDYS 
FLAGSTAFF 

And  the  Limited  arrived  on  time;  indeed  five 
minutes  ahead  of  it!  And  on  the  platform  were 
all  the  young  men:  Mr.  Lampland  the  first  to  greet 
mfe,  and  dear  old  Doe. 

Feeling  rather  too  tired  I  did  not  that  night  go 
up  on  the  hill,  but  yesterday  I  spent  there.  Ter- 
mansen  is  very  faithful  and  burst  into  tears  when 
I  told  him  that  his  wages  would  run  right  on  during 
his  vacation.  He  is  feeling  ill  and  looking  very 
bad  and  I  have  told  him  he  must  go  off  again. 
The  man  they  have  in  his  place,  or  as  assistant — 
for  they  need  two  with  their  night  work — is  also  a 
good  worker.  His  name  is  Worthington  and  he 
seems  worthy  the  name. 

Last  night  I  dined  at  the  Does'  and  Mrs.  D. 
showed  me  a  crack  straight  across  their  dining-room 
ceiling  which  had  been  made  by  the  earthquake  of 
San  Francisco.  She  said  the  whole  room  rocked 
and  that  she  had  to  hold  on  to  something.  I  did 
not  think  to  inquire  about  it  on  the  hill,  taking  for 
granted,  indeed,  that  nothing  had  happened;  but 
today  I  shall  be  more  inquisitive. 

The  sweet  peas,  just  up,  asked  after  you,  and  the 
Indian  paintbrushes  sent  you  their  regards. 

Jansen  told  me  of  an  interesting  observation  he 
had  made  on  the  garden.  The  plants  there  are 
nipped  by  the  frost  when  those  on  the  higher  ground 
about  the  house  escape  and  I  have  noticed  the  fact 

52  ! 


An  Afterglow 


this  year.  The  cold  of  ten  days  ago  and  since  has 
killed  the  nasturtiums  down  there  while  those  in 
your  plot  by  the  walk  to  the  study  are  all  right. 
I  shall  plant  some  more  tomorrow. 


53 


Percival  Lowell 


LOWELL  OBSERVATORY 
FLAGSTAFF 

I  am  up  in  the  study  on  Mars'  Hill,  listening  to 
the  ticking  of  the  clock  and  looking  at  the  room 
and  its  setting  without.  As  I  can  see  you  reading, 
it  is  natural  that  I  should  speak  to  you — and  this 
is  a  case  where  the  pen  is  mightier  than  the 
(s)word. 

It  is  a  last  quiet  study  afternoon  here,  for  to- 
morrow the  Limited  that  we  see  rolling  down  to 
the  station  below  with  its  long-drawn  whistle  should 
be  taking  me  in  a  moment  eastward  too. 

A  tall  yellow  flower — the  single-blossomed  one 
— nods  to  me  out  of  one  window,  while  Indian 
paint-brushes  blush  at  me  from  without  the  other. 
There  are  numbers  of  the  last  this  year,  more  than 
I  ever  saw  before.  Paint-brush  Point  you  remem- 
ber— where  the  earliest  are  found  is  carpeted  with 
them  and  from  the  rock  where  the  very  first  always 
appear.  I  yesterday  plucked  one  which  I  shall  tuck 
between  these  sheets  when  this  goes  into  its  mail- 
bag  sleep. 

Yesterday  evening  we  had  a  mass  meeting  in 
the  court  house  to  rouse  the  people  to  advance  the 
town, — the  meeting,  of  which  the  clipping  already 
sent  you  recounted  the  futurity.  Doe  and  I  spoke, 
Doe  outdoing  himself  and  the  thing  was  a  success. 
A  committee  was  appointed  to  draw  up  a  petition 
of  the  A.  T.  &  S.  F.  Ry.  Co.  to  build  a  suitable  tour- 

54 


LIBRARY    CHIMNEY-CORKER FLAGSTAFF 


An  Afterglow 


ist  hotel  where  people  can  come  and  be  comfortable ; 
and  today  it  is  being  circulated  that  I  may  carry  it 
Ripleywards  tomorrow.  The  thing  has  taken  and 
the  town  is  roused. 


55 


Percival  Lowell 


BROWN  S  HOTEL 
LONDON,  W. 

My  sister  arrived  yesterday  after  a  record  trip 
for  the  Arabic,  of  6  days  17  hours — and  decided  to 
come  to  this  hotel  where  she  is  now.  My  brother 
and  his  wife  are  still  in  34  Clarges  Street,  and  we 
all  dined  together  there  last  night. 

Have  finished  my  motor  trip,  a  successful  per- 
formance in  spite  of  the  usual  impossible  chauffeur. 
The  prehistoric  and  the  old  Roman  remains  were 
most  interesting.  I  am  now  having  their  present- 
ments printed,  and  when  done  shall  send  you  copies. 

I  suddenly  came  upon  snail- shells  and  at  once 
pounced  on  them  for  Prof.  Morse.  They  lay  a 
foot  or  two  under  the  sod  and  although  they  have 
no  connection  with  the  mound-builders,  take  on  a 
little  glamour  from  the  juxtaposition.  There  were 
three  kinds  of  them  and  I  have  sent  him  all  in  a 
pill-box. 


56 


An  Afterglow 


LOWELL  OBSERVATORY 
FLAGSTAFF 

Here  are  some  of  the  latest  views  of  Mars.  March 
7-8  was  a  warm  day  in  the  planet's  southern  hemi- 
sphere, for  the  frost  on  Hellas  half  vanished  be- 
tween the  two  dates. 

NEW  YORK 
EN  ROUTE,  BOSTON 

Some  of  the  red  maples  are  now  decked  in  real 
coral,  some  in  orange-brown.  Tie  ribbons  round 
your  Concord  trees  and  see  how  each  turns  in  the 
fall. 

The  orchids  said  bon  jour  to  me  very  prettily  this 
morning. 


57 


Percival  Lowell 


AM  BOKD  DES  SCHNELLDAMPFERS  "DEUTSCHLAND" 

A  smooth,  neutral-tinted  voyage;  the  first  three 
days  as  hot  as  Tophet.  My  blue  silk  jacket  too 
warm.  Wanted  to  reduce  myself  to  my  lowest 
terms  and  then  get  rid  of  some  of  them.  Not  a  soul 
on  board  I  know.  Sit  opposite  Julia  Marlowe  who 
has  never  once  appeared  at  table.  Have  had  chats 
with  her  manager  of  a  theatrically  intimate  char- 
acter. He  has  hoped  to  get  her  down  for  the  sake 
of  the  bashful  doctor  at  whose  table  we  sit  and  who 
wants  to  see  her.  Last  evening  the  Captain  asked 
me  to  come  to  his  cabin  for  coffee.  There  were 
others ;  among  them  Mrs.  and  Miss  Cramp  of  Phil- 
adelphia and  a  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Wallach  Goodrich  of 
Boston.  Of  deck  friends  made  and  extended  else- 
where, there  are  a  few  and  as  the  Germans  say 
sonst  nicht.  Life  in  bits  as  usual  with  life;  oases 
of  episode  strung  on  the  desert  of  existence. 

We  expect  to  be  in  Plymouth  Bay  on  Wednes- 
day morning. 

We  are  now  three-quarters  way  across,  the  only 
motion  so  far  being  made  by  the  ship.  Even  so  it 
is  not  so  hard  to  write  as  on  the  transcontinental 
trains. 


58 


An  Afterglow 


HOTEL  CECIL 

Your  note,  though  only  two  hours  after  me  in 
starting,  was  days  behind  before  it  got  here,  only 
arriving  yesterday.  This  is  the  penalty  one  pays 
for  taking  the  fastest  boat.  Was  it  not  fortunate 
I  did  not  take  that  of  three  days  before  and  then 
the  midnight  train  to  London?  Had  I  done  so  I 
should  have  made  a  farther  journey  to  a  land 
whence  there  is  no  return. 

Here  engagements  multiply  as  I  stay.  One  of 
the  first  things  I  did  was  to  run  across  Millet  who 
is  trying  to  get  the  English  Admiralty  to  adopt  the 
submarine  sound  signal  and  seems  to  be  succeeding. 
I  see  much  of  him,  and  yesterday  he  took  me  to  tea 
at  the  Alma  Tadema's  who,  whether  primed  by  him 
or  not,  welcomed  me  as  the  Martian.  Yesternight  I 
dined  with  Kellogg,  the  man  whose  picture  is  in  the 
left-hand  corner  of  my  desk,  coming  last  winter 
from  London.  It  was  a  pleasant  little  affair  of 
six,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Foster, — he  the  son  of  the  cele- 
brated surgeon,  Sir  Michael  Foster,  and  she  the 
former  wife  of  Governor  Russell — among  the  com- 
pany. 

This  morning  comes  a  note  from  Sir  Robert  Ball 
asking  me  to  lunch  and  dine  in  Cambridge  next 
Sunday, — also  last  night  a  telegram  to  lunch  with 
Lady  Playfair  on  Thursday. 


59 


Perdval  Lowell 


UNIVERSITY  ARMS  HOTEL 
CAMBRIDGE 

Here  I  am — for  lunch  with  Sir  Robert  Ball  at 
the  Observatory  and  for  dinner  at  Kings'.  I  came 
within  an  ace  of  not  getting  here.  The  only  Sunday 
train  which  would  get  me  down  in  time  was  the 
9:50  from  Liverpool  Street.  I  had  thought  as  I 
thought  of  everything  I  should  need — the  sacred 
toothbrush,  the  indispensable  night  clothes  and  so 
forth  and  had  reached  the  station  with  abundance 
of  time,  when,  on  going  toward  the  ticket  wicket, 
I  discovered  to  my  horror  that  I  had  left  both  my 
note  and  my  coin  pocketbooks  behind.  I  had  not 
time  to  return  for  them  and  no  later  train  would 
do.  On  the  hope  that  one  of  them  might  have 
crept  into  my  valise,  I  went  through  it,  but  fruit- 
lessly,— discovering  only  my  discarded  pocketbook 
with  American  bills.  This  the  kindly  porter  said 
would  not  do.  Next  it,  however,  I  spied  a  metal 
purse  into  which  I  had  put,  in  Boston  preparatory 
to  France,  some  French  gold.  Could  I  change 
this?  The  porter  said  there  was  an  exchange  in 
the  station  which  would  close  soon.  We  went.  Alas, 
it  had  closed  already.  As  a  last  resort  I  tried  the 
ticket  seller  and  prevailed  upon  him,  for  an  ex- 
change consideration,  to  accept  my  gold.  And  my 
ticket  there  and  back  was  bought.  Then  I  settled 
myself  in  my  railway  carriage  and  arrived  safely 
— but  still  a  pauper.  Gold  and  paper  everywhere 
about  my  person  and  belongings  but  not  an  ounce 

60 


PERCIVAL    LOWELL 1908 


An  Afterglow 


to  use.  Let  us  hope  that  the  landlady  of  this  hos- 
telry will  be  as  tractable  as  the  ticket  man;  if  not 
you  can  conceive  me  as  living  for  ever  more  in  Cam- 
bridge unable  to  get  out.  Hope  you  will  excuse 
this  inexcusable  J  pen. 


61 


Percival  Lowell 


THE  PRINCES'  HOTEL,  LONDON,  s.  w. 

Thank  you  for  your  au  courant  letters.  Just 
before  I  got  here  it  was  terribly  warm  for  Lon- 
don, 80°  F.  But  I  knew  nothing  of  it,  the  ther- 
mometer having  sunk  again  before  I  stepped 
ashore. 

Except  in  the  churches  you  would  not  know  that 
the  suffragettes  existed.  All  I  have  seen  of  them 
was  a  respectably  dressed  one  selling  "The  Suf- 
fragette" at  the  Swan  &  Edgar  corner  of  Picca- 
dilly Circus. 

On  Thursday  last  I  was  the  guest  of  the  Royal 
Society  Club — the  inner  circle  of  the  Royal  So- 
ciety— at  dinner.  I  sat  at  the  right  of  the  presi- 
dent of  the  Club,  Sir  Clifford  Allbutt,  and  Sir 
David  Prain,  the  Director  of  the  Royal  Gardens, 
Kew,  on  mine.  After  the  sweets  and  the  regula- 
tion toasts,  they  got  me  to  talk;  and  I  showed  them 
some  of  the  slides,  passed  round  the  table.  To- 
night I  dine  with  Prof.  Boys  at  his  club,  the  Sa- 
ville.  Thursday  I  leave  for  the  Hotel  Chatham, 
Paris. 

Dr.  Slipher's  cable  arrived  very  apropos  "Spec- 
trograms show  Virgo  Nebula  rotating." 


62 


An  Afterglow 


LONDON 

Thank  you  so  much  for  taking  all  that  trouble. 
I  heard  last  night  at  dinner  that  he,  Sorolla,  was 
not  appreciated  in  England  and  that  therefore  his 
pictures  on  exhibition  here  could  probably  be  had 
cheap.  In  Paris,  last  season,  his  gallery  was 
thronged.  The  Chief  of  Police  was  at  the  dinner 
and  told  me  some  interesting  items  of  motor  news. 
Thought  it  would  be  good  to  know  him.  John,  for 
instance,  was  twice  stopped  in  the  afternoon  for 
his  oil  fumes.  Amusing,  considering  all  I  have  said 
on  the  subject. 


63 


Percival  Lowell 


BROWN'S  HOTEL,  LONDON  W. 


I  strolled  down  Piccadilly  this  afternoon  by  the 
side  of  Green  Park  in  a  clear  autumnal-feeling  air 
and  thought  of  trees  and  walks  on  the  other  side 
of  the  Atlantic.  It  is  a  poverty-stricken  flora  one 
sees  here  especially  in  town ; — plane-tree,  plane-tree 
and  again  plane-tree,  until  one  wishes  all  were  not 
so  plane.  I  have  become  possessed  of  a  most  ex- 
cellent English  book  on  trees,  native  and  imported, 
quite  the  best,  everything  considered,  and  shall  I 
say  quite  as  good  as  our  best;  for  I  can't  say  more 
in  any  sense!  And  I  speak  by  the  book  when  I 
say  the  flora,  the  tree-flora  is  poor.  There  is,  for 
instance,  but  one  native  maple,  which  is  unlike  any 
we  have,  and  hardly  more  than  a  shrub.  I  have 
lately  seen  it  on  the  Continent,  too.  Then,  they  have 
only  one  oak,  a  species  of  white  oak.  Indeed  I  saw 
only  specimens  of  this  great  class  abroad.  No  red 
oak  species  at  all.  What  we  call  the  English  elm 
is  no  more  English  than  American,  being  an  im- 
ported tree  in  both  countries.  And  so  the  tale  of 
depletion  goes  on.  Of  yews,  however,  they  may 
boast,  several  kinds  being  patently  in  evidence. 
Their  beech  cannot  stand  beside  ours  without  being 
ashamed  of  both  its  skin  and  its  diminutive  leaves. 
It  hasn't  a  good  complexion,  and  as  its  cuticle  is 
its  chief  attraction,  the  result  is  failure. 

Tomorrow  I  start  on  a  motor  trip  and  my  inval- 
uable book  bears  me  faithful  company,  although  I 
have  noticed  one  tree  I  can't  find  in  it  at  all. 


An  Afterglow 


BROWN  S  HOTEL,  LONDON  W. 

Picked  in  the  public  garden  of  Geneva,  a  variety 
of  the  Acer  negundo,  or  ash-leaved  maple  such  as 
we  found  on  the  hill  above  Belmont  in  the  walk 
from  the  Waverley  Oaks.  This  variety  has  parti- 
colored leaves,  sometimes  producing  albedoes  like 
the  sprig  enclosed.  Since  then  I  have  seen  them 
growing  in  cultivation  here  in  England.  With  this 
you  may  talk  learnedly  to  such  botanic  professors 
as  you  meet. 

I  am  thinking  of  crossing  the  Channel  tomorrow 
and  sailing  in  a  couple  of  weeks.  Shall  wire  when, 
sure. 

The  Lake  Placid  Club  card  has  just  come  out  of 
regular  mail  routine  by  some  obliging  steamer. 
Berths  back  are  very  scarce.  "All  taken"  they  as- 
sured me  at  the  Hamburg- American  line  office  yes- 
terday. So  poplar  is  our  land — we  must  get  back 
to  it  for  all  our  wanderings  abroad. 


65 


Percival  Lowell 


PARIS 

Nothing  was  nicer  to  hear  than  the  echo  of  pleas- 
ure which  breakfasted  with  me  this  morning  in 
the  letter  from  New  York  of  the  17th— the  letter 
that  bore  upon  its  cover  the  heads  of  three  gentle- 
men in  three  colors,  not'  inappropriate.  Franklin 
of  evergreen  memory ;  Washington  ,well  read  of ; 
Lincoln  making  one  feel  blue. 

I  am  glad  my  letters  and  postals  are  beginning, 
the  carrier-pigeons,  to  come  in ;  for  many  have  gone. 
I  have  tried  not  to  miss  a  steamer — though  I  have, 
but  I  have  also  duplicated  some. 

Today  I  pilgrimage  out  to  Bellevue,  Meudon  to 
dejeuner  with  Deslandres  and  Flammarion.  Yes- 
terday a  telegram  from  the  former  came  to  me 
here  to  do  so,  and  I  said  I  would.  I  shall  take  one 
of  those  bateaux  mouches  which  I  do  not  fancy; 
toil  up  in  spirit,  the  funiculaire,  and  return  the  same 
way  perhaps  with  Flammarion  qui  sait.  My  soul, 
or  sole,  is  fast  wearing  out  with  Europe,  and  I  know 
of  no  place  but  home  to  have  both  repaired.  My 
cable  "sailing  Lorraine  first"  will  have  apprised 
you  of  the  fact  that  I  am  trying  a  new  line.  Hope 
it  won't  prove  too  trying,  nor  the  weather  in  New 
York  and  Boston  later.  Here  it  is  fairly  cool  if 
nothing  else. 


66 


An  Afterglow 


PAKIS 

I  peg  away  at  my  lectures  with  fair  success  and 
as  far  as  picking  up  copy-books  for  them  goes  may 
be  said  to  have  succeeded — my  last,  for  the  final 
full  draft,  a  brilliantly  cover-colored  affair  with  a 
map  of  France  for  frontispiece.  It  should  be  Mars. 

Bearing  upon  Mars,  on  the  rectilinear  appear- 
ance of  the  canals,  is  the  clipping  enclosed  which 
will  interest  you  and  Morse  if  he  drops  in.  It  ex- 
plains why  the  lines  do  not  appear  as  curved  as 
they  should.  The  eye  rectifies  them. 

My  lectures  are  to  be  a  wedding  of  Earth  to 
Mars  through  geology.  In  consequence  I  have 
been  devouring  works  on  the  subject  of  our  own 
Earth's  history,  both  English  and  French. 

One  makes  curious  visual  acquaintances  in  the 
courts  of  these  French  hotels.  There  is  a  man 
over  the  enclosed  way  who  spends  his  time  at  little 
else  than  trimming  and  brushing  his  hair!  He  only 
varies  this  performance  by  brushing  his  clothes. 


67 


Percival  Lowell 


HOTEL  LAFAYETTE 

Got  here  to  find  myself  in  the  midst  of  the  foot- 
ball rush.  Not  a  room  to  be  had  at  the  Walton,  the 
Stafford  or  the  Bellevue;  and  at  first  only  a  dirty 
little  out  of  the  way  bathroom  here,  minus  towels, 
a  mirror  or  natural  light.  On  the  other  hand  it 
was  two  bathrooms  in  one,  for  the  floor  above  was 
so  cracked  that  the  contents  of  a  higher  tub  came 
down  in  showers  into  this.  Thus  were  things 
equalized. 

To  add  to  my  miseries  I  discovered  that  the  soles 
of  my  boots  were  too  thin  for  comfortable  treading 
of  the  cold  world.  So  I  went  out  and  purchased 
a  pair  of  "gums"  which  looked  small  when  on  my 
feet  and  huge  off  them,  over  there  in  the  corner. 
For  I  have  at  last  fallen  upon  my  feet,  having  se- 
cured by  chance  the  corner  room  up  one  flight,  giv- 
ing on  Broad  and  Sansom  Streets,  open-eyed  to 
all  there  is  to  see  and  flooded  with  sunshine.  It  is 
so  good  I  shall  continue  to  perch  here,  going  over  to 
the  Walton  for  meals,  mail  and  music. 

I  must  have  left  a  table  of  Jupiter's  family  of 
comets — one  page,  in  my  writing,  in  the  depths  of 
my  desk;  also  a  table  of  an  X,  etc.,  by  Mr.  Manson, 
the  second  set.  You  will  know  it  by  its  being  in 
two  sheets,  the  numbers  in  the  left  hand  column 
corresponding  to  those  in  my  table. 


68 


An  Afterglow 


HOTEL   LAFAYETTE 

Your  yell-oh  note  of  encouragement  gave  me 
pleasure,  and  I  send  you  the  echo  of  its  apprecia- 
tion in  this  line  just  before  going  to  the  test.  If  the 
test  doesn't  succeed  on  others,  after  your  kind  en- 
couragement, I  shall  indeed  be  testy  with  myself. 
The  lantern  slides,  thanks  to  you,  arrived  early — 
for  breakfast  this  morning.  So  that  is  well. 

I  shall  leave  here  Sunday  probably  for  the  Man- 
hattan, New  York,  where  send  mail. 


69 


Perdval  Lowell 


FLAGSTAFF 

The  Peaks  this  morning  are  white-laced  from 
yesterday's  storm,  a  white  mantilla  over  their  heads 
and  shoulders.  With  yesterday's  mail,  too,  came  a 
long-given  up  letter  from  Morse  Sensei,  pouring 
ashes  on  his  own  head  and  beating  his  breast  for  his 
failure  to  write  before.  He  enclosed  a  letter  from 
Elihu  Thomson  of  a  most  interesting  character. 
Prof.  Thomson  made  himself  some  time  ago  a  ten- 
inch  glass,  and  this  summer  he  has  been  trying  to 
see  something  on  Mars.  Most  of  the  nights  were, 
bad,  but  on  July  5th  he  was  vouchsafed  an  hour  of 
capital  seeing  and  behold  the  canals  came  out.  His 
letter  is  so  much  to  the  point  that  Mr.  Lampland 
wants  it  published.  So  I  am  writing  to  Morse  to 
see  if  it  cannot  be  arranged.  I  am  going  to  suggest 
to  Morse  to  embody  it  in  an  article  for  the  Atlantic. 
I  shall  copy  the  letter  for  you  in  case  I  return  the 
original  before  you  get  back. 

I  am  very  glad  you  are  having  a  pleasant  time, 
and  I  read  your  letters  and  scanned  their  enclosures 
with  much  satisfaction. 

We  narrowly  escaped  a  frost  last  night.  It  was 
certainly  uncommon  cold — nice,  too,  this  first  fresh- 
ness of  fall,  when  the  mid-days  are  still  sun-warmed 
and  bright.  The  box  of  morning  glories  on  the 
piazza  have  been  in  bloom  for  some  days;  side 
by  side  with  the  flowering  potted  geraniums.  Those 
by  the  bathroom  are  mammoth,  veritable  Jack-and- 
the-Beanstalk  ones. 


HIS    BUNGALOW,    AFTER    JANE    PETERSOX— ARTIST 


An  Afterglow 


COPY 

SWAMPSCOTT,  MASS. 
Dear  Prof.  Morse: 

You  will  be  interested  to  know  that  for  an  hour 
last  night  between  eleven  and  twelve  the  air  was 
so  steady  here  that  my  ten-inch  telescope  put  on 
Mars,  not  only  showed  a  great  wealth  of  detail  but 
also  some  of  the  canals,  and  at  times,,  only  at  times, 
a  network  appearance  of  them.  I  have  been  at  it 
for  three  weeks  on  every  fair  night,  but  not  until 
last  night  was  there  definite  result,  though  at  times 
the  effect  was  as  if  there  existed  markings  too 
evanescent  to  be  made  out.  I  despair  of  getting 
another  such  night  in  this  climate.  Perhaps  the 
smoke,  and  general  stirring  up  by  bonfires  and 
fireworks,  had  temporarily  worked  the  atmosphere 
to  uniformity.  At  any  rate,  it  did  not  last  more 
than  an  hour. 

The  proof  that  there  is  no  illusion  consists  in  the 
fact  that  only  at  the  moments  of  very  great  steadi- 
ness could  the  detail  be  seen: — canals  and  all.  If 
the  effect  were  the  result  of  optical  illusion,  it  should 
have  appeared  on  other  nights  and  on  last  night  it 
should  have  been  present  even  when  the  disc  was 
only  fairly  steady. 

The  reality  is  exactly  the  contrary.  To  see  this 
finer  detail  demands  the  maximum  of  steadiness, 
and  therefore  the  appearance  when  seen  is  that  of 
the  true  markings  of  Mars. 

It  is  probable  that  the  nights  of  Mars  are  cold 

71  : 


Percival  Lowell 


or  freezing  with  deposition  of  water  as  rain,  sleet, 
hoarfrost  or  snow,  which  is  remelted  each  day  and. 
largely  evaporated  in  the  sunshine. 

Such  a  process  of  repeated  deposition  and  evap- 
oration would  shift  the  water  gradually  from  the 
melting  polar  cap-area  to  the  equator  and  beyond 
and  amount  to  a  flow  of  water,  at  least  in  its  ef- 
fects. 

I  thought  you  would  be  interested  to  know  this 
climax  of  a  little  persistent  sky-gazing.  I  am  writ- 
ing you  while  the  matter  is  fresh. 

I  find  that  though  my  left  eye  is  perfectly  good 
I  cannot  see  details  as  with  the  right  eye.  This 
shows  that  training  is  needed  and  one  becomes 
right-eyed  just  as  he  becomes  dextrous  with  the 
right  hand  by  long  practice.  This  accounts,  too, 
for  the  fact  that  quite  often  persons  using  the  tele- 
scope or  microscope,  but  who  are  not  accustomed 
to  such  use,  fail  to  detect  minor  details  which  to 
the  trained  eye  are  not  only  visible,  but  even  easily 
seen. 

Very  truly  yours, 

ELIHU  THOMSON. 

P.  S.  The  south  polar  cap  with  its  border  of 
blue-green  was  a  very  interesting  sight  in  itself. 
Everything  was  clear  cut,  sharply  defined. 


An  Afterglow 


FLAGSTAFF 

We  have  got  some  more  interesting  photographs 
and  some  capital  prints  of  enlargement  on  solis 
paper.  Agassiz's  article  has  come  and  it  is  excel- 
lent. My  copies  of  it  have  not  yet  arrived.  Wa- 
tered the  peas  yesterday  and  now  it  is  raining  again ! 
The  weather  took  the  hint. 

THE  SHOREHAM 

I  had  a  most  satisfactory  day  yesterday  at  the 
Observatory  with  Captain  Barnette  and  Prof.  Up- 
degraff ;  first  they  are  contemplating  the  following 
of  asteroids  discovered  in  this  country  as  a  business, 
and  secondly  they  are  going  to  reform  the  Nautical 
Almanac.  So  that  the  talk  I  had  with  Captain  B. 
in  January  has  become  fruit  and  I  trust  that  the 
suggestions  of  which  Updegraff  made  note  today 
will,  too. 

Socially  I  see  nobody  interesting  though  I  had 
an  agreeable  dinner  yesterday  at  my  friends,  the 
Wads  worths. 


Percival  Lowell 


THE  SHOREHAM 

Herewith  the  letters.  That  of  Mr.  Agassiz 
among  them.  Let  slides  be  made  of  the  1907  globe 
and  also  of  one  or  two  of  his  drawings  and  of 
E.  C.  Slipher's  and  of  anything  else  your  good 
judgment  dictates — and  express  them  to  him.  It 
is  well  to  hear  he  is  to  lecture.  Saw  the  Senate 
this  morning,  and  believe  I  listened  to  a  poor  show- 
ing of  oratory.  We  Martians  can  do  better. 

11  WEST  CEDAR  STREET 

This  morning  I  despatched  you  a  paper  contain- 
ing the  account  of  the  Shinto  rites  yesterday.  I 
must  say  the  papers  did  it  well.  Mr.  Arthur  War- 
ren was  there  and  took  just  the  interest  one  likes 
to  see  taken.  The  place  was  full  and  the  audience 
gratified  at  being  asked.  While  in  the  distance  peo- 
ple outside  the  pale  stood  on  carts,  and  boys  even 
to  the  tops  of  far-off  houses, — one  perched  on  the 
tip  of  a  chimney.  Dr.  Suga  cut  himself  slightly 
but  not  seriously.  He  did  very  well  considering, 
though  it  was  not  possible  of  course  for  a  poor  lone 
priest  to  come  up  to  what  he  might  have  done  in 
Japan.  The  rite  was  beautifully  set  forth  and  the 
setting  of  the  whole  enclosure  worthy  the  most  ar- 
tistic people  in  the  world.  Policemen  kept  out  the 
crowd  and  stared  aghast,  and  altogether  it  was  a 
relished  function. 


74 


An  Afterglow 


BOSTON 

The  Yellow-wood  has  been  in  bloom  these  last 
few  days.  I  have  not  seen  it  at  its  prime  but  the 
tree  itself  is  commoner  than  we  thought.  A  pretty 
little  dogbane  asked  to  be  picked.  So  I  took  it,  and 
pressed  it  and  have  meant  to  send  it  along  every 
day  since.  But  it  is  coming. 

Yesterday  I  fulfilled  my  promise  to  speak  at  the 
Roxbury  Latin  School  graduation,  and  boys  and 
others  were  good  enough  to  be  pleased.  They 
seemed  to  think  I  stirred  them.  One  young  man 
from  Harvard  was  overheard  to  say  to  his  younger 
brother  "He's  bully";  to  which  the  brother  replied 
in  a  more  stolid  manner  "He's  all  right."  So  I  got 
the  youth,  which  is  the  thing  to  get.  It  will  amuse 
you  to  hear  that  the  T  reported  of  the  things  I  said 
about  carbon  dioxide,  the  exact  opposite.  The  re- 
porter who  came  up  to  me  after  the  talk  for  some 
explanations  said  he  was  an  old  Roxbury  Latin  boy 
himself. 


75 


Percival  Lowell 


SAAS-FEE 

View  from  my  window.  Notice  the  lateral  mo- 
raine of  the  glacier  and  remark,  from  the  fresh  ap- 
pearance of  its  glacier  side  (the  left),  how  the 
glacier  has  retreated  within  a  few  years. 

FLAGSTAFF 

Flower  Annals,  1909. 
May  3  First  Pea  (the  low  purple) 
4  Spurge  threaten  to  bloom 
Weather  like  summer. 

FLAGSTAFF 

Chronicle  continued. — 

May  11  3d  row  (my  old  one,  just  inside  the 
wall)  of  peas  bursting  the  ground. 
First  Indian  paint-brush!!!  on  hill  near 
"Dover"  cliffs  of  Harry. 

The  horned  toads  are  round  in  numbers.    I  pre- 
sented the  dead  snake  to  one  on  the  way  home  yes- 
terday, and  he  fainted  or  feigned. 
May  12  Tiny  yellow  flower  in  Holly  Ravine.  Per- 
haps recorded  before. 

13  Holly  and  Potentilla  canadensis  near  the 
mullein  patch.  Radishes  big  enough  to 
eat,  and  eaten. 


76 


An  Afterglow 


LOWELL  OBSERVATORY 
FLAGSTAFF 

Chronicle  of  the  Flowers  continued. — 
May     7  First  low  wild  vetch  in  flower  pink-purple. 
"     8-9  Social  tall  yellow  flower — woolly  leaves, 

first  opens  its  eyes. 

9  First  dime  daisy,  the  one  that  buds  red 
and  rises  about  three  inches  from  the 
ground. 

"  First  yellow  lupin  (over  on  Clark's  Top) . 
The  dime  daisy  was  by  the  sumach  patch 
near  Wolf  Canon. 

'  Oaks,  the  most  advanced  just  breaking 
into  leaf  and  flower.     Right  east  of  the 
study  window  was  the  first. 
10  First  very  small  yellow  flower  leaves  at 
right  angles  in  opposite  pairs. 

First  Indian  paint-brush  bud 

As  Mr.  Lampland  and  I  continued  our  walk  this 
morning  we  suddenly,  within  a  foot,  came  upon  a 
huge  snake  which  at  first  we  doubted  to  be  a  rattler. 
He  coiled  and  hissed.  We  killed  him  with  stones 
and  brought  him  home  still  moving.  He  measured 
five  feet  two  inches  and  is  now  in  a  large  jar,  as 
sarcophagus,  for  preservation.  He  was,  we  think, 
a  bull-snake.  He  was  lying  nearly  at  length  on 
the  mesa  just  this  side  of  the  sumach  patch  above 
Wolf  Ravine. 


77 


Percival  Lowell 


BOSTON 

This  is  the  nearest  echo  of  the  den.  I  hope  the 
newly  planted  flowers  are  up  and  the  others  upper. 
A  pleasing  postcard  signed  by  several  French 
people  greeted  me  here  expressing  their  enjoyment 
in  reading  Mars  et  ses  Canauoc  and  looking  for- 
ward to  more  this  year. 

FLAGSTAFF 

April  5.  Snow  on  the  continental  divide,  on  the 
ground  and  falling — train  on  time  at  Albuquerque, 
one  hour  late  at  Flag.  Flag  colder  than  I  had  sup- 
posed it  would  be. 

April  6.  Hyacinths  just  ready  to  welcome.  Cro- 
cuses out  in  the  plots  before  the  dark  room  and  the 
study. 

San  Francisco  peaks  covered  down  through  the 
upper  pastures,  and  the  snow  blowing  off  the  peaks 
yesterday  in  fine  volcano  style. 

The  cow-calf  of  Venus,  a  dear.  Another  calf 
born  on  Apr.  2  to  the  white-faced  cow,  a  bull-calf. 

FLAGSTAFF 

Lohse  accepts  the  book,  "Mars  the  Abode  of 
Life" ;  so  send  him  a  copy  with  my  card,  also  two 
or  three  copies  here.  He  writes  that  he  knows  the 
Kaiser  to  be  interested  in  astronomy,  especially 
Mars,  but  has  not  heard  of  any  decoration.  The 
whole  thing  is  odd,  is  it  not? 


78 


An  Afterglow 


FLAGSTAFF 

Here  is  the  Bulletin  for  you. 

April  13.     The  first  butterfly,  a  Pieris  rapae,  the 
imported  tramp  apparently,  found  back  on  the  mesa 
(near  the  Amelanchier  bush) . 

14  The  first  daisy,  found  near  the  cow- 
enclosure  by  the  barn. 

16  The  wood  betony  flowers  are  multiply- 
ing rapidly.  Evidenced  by  the  number  I  now  per- 
ceive between  the  B.  M.  and  the  garden  and  near 
the  Slipher's  west,  between  the  road  and  the  barn. 

There  is  still  a  patch  of  snow  on  the  N.  E.  slopes 
of  Arrowhead  Hill  (where  the  first  arrowhead  was 
found  by  W.  L.  L.  the  great  arrowhead  discov- 
erer). Of  course,  there  are  the  snow  fields  N.  of 
the  B.  M.  The  snow  is  beginning  to  show  patchy 
on  the  open  flanks  of  the  mountain,  where  we  all 
lunched  once. 

Up  to  today  it  was  one  continuous  sheet  there. 
In  spite  of  this  arctic  description  it  is  all  like  sum- 
mer, 65°  F.,  warm  and  balmy — around  the  Observa- 
tory. 

I  flushed  a  jack-rabbit  yesterday  on  my  way 
after  the  cows,  just  to  the  west  of  the  bin  in  the 
"Forest  Reserve."  It  was  good  to  see  his  great 
ears  and  great  action. 


79 


Percival  Lowell 


LOV/CLL 


80 


*L~9 

<ka*~u      A^S    <2tS  eyt       s^..    <z          ^ 
<a>^<£     *r&^      ^2.  :jfa^t     ^'    £tfzS-- 

&  t^L^,  £ 


WHAT    IS    THE    TIME    o'    DAY? 


An  Afterglow 


LOWELL  OBSERVATORY 
FLAGSTAFF 

Today  I  plant  the  second  half  of  your  row  of 
sweet  peas.  The  peas  are  soaking  now.  The  wood- 
betony  is  conspicuous.  But  it  affections  only  the 
neighborhood  of  the  B.  M.  and  of  Mr.  Slipher's. 
NiceBetony! 

The  radishes  and  lettuce  have  been  up  some  days 
in  the  frames  and  so  have  the  zinnias.  I  am  now 
covering  the  frames  with  gunny  sacks,  as  I  find 
and  remember  that  the  sun  burns  them  up. 

April  18.  There  is  a  conjunction  of  Venus  and 
Mercury  tomorrow  which  we  hope  to  witness.  We 
have  made  some  observations  of  Mars  which  show 
chiefly  the  bright  regions  near  the  equator  out  in 
full  form,  Aeria,  near  the  Trivium  and  so  forth 
• — Jupiter  is  being  photographed,  and  I  have  this 
morning  been  measuring  on  my  enlargements  the 
portions  of  the  belts. 

FLAGSTAFF 

We  had  some  excellent  views  of  the  planet  this 
morning,  and  the  canal  development  is  progressing 
just  as  predicted,  the  canals  in  the  Mare  Sirenum 
having  started  first,  being  already  dark  and  salient. 
Vive  la  prediction. 


81 


Percival  Lowell 


FLAGSTAFF 

April  21st.  Wild  carrot  flower  found.  This 
makes  four  now: 

Snow-flower 
Wood-betony 
Daisy 

Wild-carrot 

Wood-betony  now  quite  profuse,  and  snow- 
flower  not  rare,  showing  that  what  I  first  found  of 
it  was  not  the  end  but  nearer  the  beginning. 

Leave  on  No.  7  tomorrow,  or  Wednesday,  arriv- 
ing at  Santa  Barbara  the  next  day.  I  want  to  hear 
Agassiz's  lecture  on  the  Solar  System,  which  takes 
place  on  the  30th,  and  during  the  performance  of 
which  he  threatens  to  chain  me  in  the  cellar. 

FLAGSTAFF 

Gloomy  days  terrestrially  though  astronomically 
fine.  Mars  is  fulfilling  all  prophecies. 


82 


An  Afterglow 


FLAGSTAFF 

I  know  you  like  a  perfect  postcard  so  I  shall  give 
this  one  a  travelling  jacket. 

Just  back  from  the  Agassiz's  at  Santa  Barbara. 
Very  successful  trip.  A.'s  most  kind;  conductor 
and  brakeman  on  No.  7  and  No.  2  (same  men) 
quite  chummy.  Learnt  a  lot  in  consequence. 

Persuaded  A.'s  to  change  route  and  return  via 
Santa  Fe  R.  R.  for  three  days  visit  here.  Then  I 
go  East  with  them  on  the  15th — 7  A.  M. 

Met  Ripley  at  lunch;  he  wanted  me  to  go  on 
an  expedition  over  new  line  from  Prescott  to 
Colorado  River  below  Needles,  with  him. 

Mail  sent  on  16th  from  Boston  to  Auditorium 
Annex,  Chicago,  will  reach  me.  Till  10th  here. 
Your  sweet  peas  up. 


83 


Percival  Lowell 


FLAGSTAFF 

Flower  Chronicle 

May  3.  First  clover;  the  three-leaved  kind — 
blossom  pinkish  white,  leaf  with  oblong  light  mark- 
ing— near  base. 

April  27-May  3.  Some  time  between  these  dates 
while  I  was  in  California,  your  first  row  of  sweet 
peas  came  up. 

May  4.  Afternoon  second  row  sweet  peas  pierc- 
ing through — see  plan. 

Went  out  yesterday  afternoon  to  Indian  Paint- 
brush Ridge  (overlooking  plain  west  of  saw-mill; 
not  the  yellow  paint-brush  ridge  north).  Look- 
ing for  the  first  paint-brushes,  but  found  none  in 
bloom. 

Saw  one  on  April  27  near  Crookton  just  this 
side  of  Seligman. 

The  second  instalment  of  gladioli  has  duly  ar- 
rived and  I  shall  plant  them,  I  think,  today. 

The  hollyhocks  are  spreading  all  over  the  front 
of  the  B.  M.  and  the  alfalfa,  ditto,  where  it  can. 


WITH     HIS     JAPANESE     IRTS 

In  the  Arizona  Desert 


An  Afterglow 


FLAGSTAFF 

Chronicle  of  really  important  events  in  the  life 
of  the  Observatory. 

May  7  Your  peas  have  hasted  to  be  above  ground 
in  order  to  welcome  you  to  the  extent  of 
99  in  row  1,  32  in  row  2. 

"      "   Popidus  tremuloides  just  breaking  into  leaf 
in  holly  canon — The  two  kinds  of  dande- 
lion, the  solitary  and  the  social,  about  to 
flower.     (I  think  this  is  what  I  irreverently 
called  "Spurge"  the  other  day.) 
Ripley  asked  me  to  inspect  the  new  line  from 
Prescott  west  to  Parker  with  him  this  week.    He 
appreciated  my  stories.    But  I  returned  a  pleased 
negative. 

The  Agassizs  are  due  here  Wednesday  night  to 
stop  till  Saturday  morning  when  we  hie  east  to- 
gether. 

LINCOLN,  NEB. 

Warm  sun-flooded  afternoon  in  which  I  have, 
been  wandering  amid  the  fossil  bones  of  the  past 
with  Prof.  Barbour  and  Prof.  Sweeney,  the  as- 
tronomer here. 


85 


Percival  Lowell 


LONDON 

Great  success  so  far.  Sir  William  a  dear!  Have 
spoken  already  at  the  B.  A.  A.  and  asked  by  Sir 
David  Gill  the  Pres.  to  speak  at  the  R.  A.  S.  In- 
vited to  Germany  to  speak  at  Treptow  close  to 
Berlin  through  Lohse.  More  anon. 

FLAGSTAFF 

Here. — Nine  shooting  stars  to  greet  me. 

TERRITET 

Dodged  over  to  lunch  in  Italy.  Wonder  what 
they  do  on  Mars! 

FLAGSTAFF 

The  crosses  represent  the  points  reached  in  our 
ascent  of  the  Peaks  yesterday,  the  most  perfect 
day  imaginable.  Fremont  was  my  objective  point ; 
Dr.  Slipher  wished  to  leave  a  maximum  and  a 
minimum  thermometer  on  Agassiz,  which  he  did. 
Fremont  was  cozily  hospitable  as  a  Pieris  occi- 
dentalis,  and  I  both  found.  We  had  quite  an  inter- 
change of  views,  both  inspecting  the  other.  On 
the  E.  (crater)  slope  of  Agassiz  I  found  Jumper 
commums.  Thus  I  was  doubly  rewarded. 


86 


An  Afterglow 


FLAGSTAFF 

I  meant  to  have  given  you  a  picture  on  a  postal 
of  our  expedition  up  the  Peaks  on  Sept.  28 — Sad- 
dle, Fremont,  Agassiz.  It  shall  be  noted  in  a 
postcard  of  the  range. 

Today  there  is  the  first  snow  on  them  after  the 
storm  last  night;  a  powder  near  their  tops.  Be- 
low they  are  gorgeously  belted  with  aspen,  orange 
and  gold. 

FLAGSTAFF 

I  have  nothing  heavenly  as  yet  to  add.  We  are 
waiting  for  the  moon  to  pass,  to  take  pictures. 
Those  already  got  have  disclosed  asteroids  and 
some  suspicious  star  characters.  Our  Sherlock 
Holmes  is  after  them. 

This  is  to  give  you  the  very  latest  from  the  field 
of  operations. 

FLAGSTAFF 

Professor  Morse  left  yesterday.  Sorry  to  go 
but  nervous  to  get  back  to  civilization. 

Miss  Mary  Proctor  came  last  night  and  saw 
Jupiter  and  a  beautiful  nebula  in  Virgo.  She  re- 
marked on  how  much  better  Jupiter  showed  than 
at  the  Lick. 


87 


Percival  Lowell 


FLAGSTAFF 

In  taking  out  a  large  flat  stone  that  used  to  limit 
the  hollyhocks  before  their  field  of  operations  was 
enlarged,  I  discovered  this  morning  where  taran- 
tulas go  for  the  unaccounted-for  ten  months  of  the 
year.  As  I  took  it  out,  there,  underneath,  was  a 
smallish  specimen  of  the  tribe,  perhaps  three-quar- 
ters the  size  of  the  usual  September  individual. 
So  they  hibernate  during  the  greater  part  of  the 
year. 

Today  is  the  first  decent  day  we  have  had.  The 
wind  up  to  now  has  been  horrible,  and  colds  preva- 
lent through  the  community.  I  myself  have  at 
last  succumbed.  I  seem  now  to  be  better. 

The  sweet  peas  planted  in  their  usual  place,  are 
now  just  peeping  above  ground;  while  the  vege- 
tables : — radishes,  lettuce  and  beets  have  been,  ever 
since  I  came,  making  sparse  attempt  at  above- 
ground  growing.  I  am  sitting  in  the  library,  the 
new  room  overlooking  the  valley,  gazing  upon  blue 
sky  and  green  forest. 

So  far  we  have  found  nothing  except  an  asteroid 
or  two  and  one  interesting  variable  of  which  I  am 
having  prints  made.  I  wish  the  planet  were  not 
so  coy. 


88 


An  Afterglow 


LOWELL  OBSERVATORY 
FLAGSTAFF 

Here  we  have  had  it  too  cold  till  the  other  day, 
just  before  the  Judge  appeared  from  Prescott 
where  his  cases  fortunately  melted  away  and  he 
came  gallumphing  on  here.  Of  course,,  we  accom- 
panied him  to  Oak  Creek ;  and  put  up  at  Mrs.  Sis- 
sons,  an  immense  improvement  over  the  Thomas's. 
I  had  in  view  my  new?  Juniper  and  this  time  was 
put  by  Prettyman  upon  the  track  of  finding  an- 
other tree  whose  grandchild  turned  out  to  be  buried. 
So  now  I  have  what  Prof.  Sargent  wanted.  The 
next  day  I  went  on  horseback  with  a  new  squatter 
way  down  the  creek  to  beyond  where  he  was  pre- 
empting at  what  is  called  the  Great  Falls.  A  fine 
ride  it  was,  out  of  the  world  and  his  stories  peopled 
the  neighborhood  with  animals  one  longs  to  meet 
and  never  sees.  The  nearest  we  got  to  one  was  the 
trail  of  a  rattler, — but  though  we  beat  the  brush  no 
rattler  himself  appeared.  I  was,  however,  able 
to  identify  a  tree  which  both  he  and  Prettyman  had 
been  anxious  to  know  about,  the  only  specimen  in 
the  neighborhood.  The  stranger  turned  out  to  be 
the  Hop-Hornbeam.  Frank,  my  friend,  had  de- 
scribed it  as  resembling  an  elm,  which,  as  you  know, 
is  the  common  apprehension. 


89 


Percival  Lowell 


FLAGSTAFF 

Please  send  here  three  copies  of  Mars  as  the 
Abode  of  Life — It  is  good  to  have  such  here. 

The  heat  has  come  at  last  but  duly  tempered  to 
celestial  spaces. 

Judge  Doe  has  just  gone  back  to  Prescott  for 
ten  days.  Yesterday  he  and  I  went  as  far  as  the 
confines  of  the  craters  toward  the  Little  Colorado 
in  an  automobile. 

The  garden  is  doing  fairly  well.  Some  things — 
peas  and  pumpkins — excellent.  Some  nasturiums. 

LOWELL  OBSERVATORY 
FLAGSTAFF 

Thank  you  for  that  amusing  clipping.  They 
hit  the  astronomical  observations  better  than  they 
wot,  for  yesterday  morning  Mr.  Slipher  did  get  a 
photograph  of  Saturn  and  Mars  in  the  same  field, 
a  very  pretty  one. 

So  the  conjunction  was  immortalized  all  right. 

The  nasturiums  in  one  of  the  flower  troughs  are 
fine,  those  in  the  garden  not  so  good.  The  sweet 
peas  seem  to  have  grown  tired,  but  the  zinnias  are 
a  joy.  They  fill  the  farther  hot-house  bed  and  are 
a  parterre  of  color.  The  hollyhocks  are  monstrous, 
7%  feet  tall,  like  grenadiers  in  front  of  the  window 
and  fringe  most  of  the  house. 


90 


An  Afterglow 


FLAGSTAFF 

The  sweet  peas  are  recovering.  Pumpkins  meas- 
ured daily.  Gourds  setting.  Hollyhocks  immense. 

The  Judge,  Mr.  Slipher  and  I  go  on  an  automo- 
bile trip  to  the  White  Mountains  at  the  end  of  this 
week.  The  machine  is  the  wonder  of  the  town. 

LOWELL  OBSERVATORY 
FLAGSTAFF 

Sudden  resolution — asked  to  attend  Republican 
territorial  conference  at  Phoenix  on  the  20th.  Have 
decided  to  go  and  am  leaving  on  No.  7  this  morn- 
ing. Shall  not  be  back  before  Thursday  night. 

It  is  the  general  meeting  to  decide  on  Candidates 
for  the  election  in  December. — Dislike  the  journey 
but  feel  it  wise  to  be  there. 

The  rainy  season  has  not  yet  given  over.  We 
had  rain  last  night  and  showers  this  morning  just 
after  observing  and  the  peaks  at  this  moment  have 
their  nightcap  of  cloud  drawn  way  down  over  their 
ears. 

The  garden  is  still  fine  and  I  only  hope  the  frost 
will  forget  to  come. 


91 


Percival  Lowell 


LOWELL  OBSERVATORY 
FLAGSTAFF 

You  are  missing  nothing  by  not  coming.  We 
had  a  killing  frost  on  the  night  of  the  2nd  and  in 
consequence  the  garden  largely  is  not,  and  the 
aspen  on  the  mountain  which  had  begun  to  turn 
beautifully  have  gone  into  drab.  A  pretty  poor 
Providence.  That  you  may  feel  here,  nevertheless, 
I  send  some  selected  photographs. 

LOWELL  OBSERVATORY 
FLAGSTAFF 

Here  are  some  portraits  of  the  planet  taken  Oct. 
11. 

Look  at  the  Fons  Juventse  and  the  Chrysas  con- 
necting it  with  Maeisia  Silva!  The  planet  wants 
you  to  be  kept  au  courant. 

The  oaks  are  now  beautiful  in  gold  and  russet 
and  red. 


92 


An  Afterglow 


LOWELL  OBSERVATORY 
FLAGSTAFF 

Poor  Dr.  Slipher  this  morning!  He  is  now  liv- 
ing in  the  violet  room  and  as  you  know  the  photo- 
graphic basement  trap-door  opens  just  outside  it. 
This  he  had  shut  himself  on  going  to  bed  having 
found  it  open.  On  getting  up  for  Mars  at  4 :45  he 
opened  his  door  and  stepped  right  do^n  into  the 
abyss,  Mr.  L.  having  opened  the  door  in  the  mean- 
time and  forgotten  to  close  it.  He  had  an  awful 
fall  and  for  two  hours  was  in  agony.  He  is  now 
better  and  is  sitting  in  the  new  library,  opposite 
me,  before  the  fire.  Severe  bruises,  I  believe,  are 
all,  fortunately. 

LOWELL  OBSERVATORY 
FLAGSTAFF 

After  a  spell  of  ten  days  of  impossibility  of  ob- 
servation, Mr.  E.  C.  Slipher  and  I  began  again 
last  night  and  finding  the  seeing  not  so  good  as  we 
had  expected  went  to  bed  to  rise  again  early  this 
morning.  He  is  now  developing  one  of  the  photo- 
graphs we  took  this  A.  M.  The  canals  are  ever 
so  much  more  evident  than  they  were  last  opposi- 
tion. Soon  I  shall  send  you  prints  of  drawings 
and  photographs. 

Plate  has  just  been  developed;  canals  show  fairly 
well  about  the  eye  of  Mars. 


98 


Percival  Lowell 


MARS'  HILL 

Just  back  from  my  excursion  to  Kingman — The 
Judge  says  it  was  a  great  success.  And  I  suppose 
a  judgei  should  know.  Certainly  I  made  some 
friends;  even  among  the  Socialist  miners  which  was 
my  aim.  One  of  them  whose  views  were  quite 
subversive,  now  loves  me — to  my  immense  surprise. 
He  is  a  mighty  hunter  before  daybreak  and  after. 
— You  thought  I  was  going  to  say  "before  the 
Lord"  but  I  avoid  commonplaces  as  all  hunters 
should  do. — I  read  ancient  history  but  I  shot  quail 
— all  I  could,  which  was  not  many.  Quail  we  all 
learned,  even  the  mighty  hunter,  are  dishearten- 
ingly  scarce  this  year.  I  hunted  men  with  more 
success.  You  should  have  had  a  bird's-eye  view 
of  both.  First  the  spacious  desert  trod  by  a  man 
and  a  gun  all  day  past  cacti  and  palochristi  trees 
and  then  the  same  man  minus  the  gun  treading  the 
boards  of  the  Elks  Hall  by  night.  One  of  the 
miners  afterward  came  up  and  expressed  his  in- 
terest in  the  astronomical  part  of  the  lecture  and 
then  added  with  gusto,  "And  I  like  your  politics 
too!"  I  had  shown  how  the  solidarity  of  the  Mar- 
tian canal  system  points  to  an  efficient  government 
in  which  the  best  men  are  at  the  front  and  then  I 
went  on  to  show  its  applicability  to  us. 


94 


HIS    FIRST    TELESCOPE    HONORABLY    DISCHARGED 


An  Afterglow 


LOWELL  OBSERVATORY 
FLAGSTAFF 

We  were  up  all  night  last  night  with  Mars. 
Among  other  things  we  took  six  plates  of  the  planet 
showing  that  morning  frost  is  nearly  half  way 
round  the  longitudes.  The  fact  that  it  was  always 
there  on  the  sunrise  limb  and  never  entered  far  on 
to  the  disc  proves  conclusively  that  it  was  morning 
frost  that  melted  as  the  day  advanced.  It  was 
perfectly  white  and  more  salient  than  the  south 
polar  cap. 

I  shall  shortly  send  you  an  enlargement  of  our 
last  night's  work. 


95 


Percival  Lowell 


LOWELL  OBSERVATORY 
FLAGSTAFF 

Here  is  the  anon. 

The  first  frost  observations  have  gone  like  wild- 
fire over  the  country.  Not  only  the  N.  Y.  Times 
but  the  Albuquerque  Republican  have  had  editor- 
ials on  the  subject  and  very  nice  ones  too.  And 
this  morning  conies  a  telegram  from  the  Associated 
Press  asking  for  additional  details.  It  is  amusing 
to  see  what  takes.  Today,  if  possible,  I  shall  send 
an  enlargement  of  one  of  our  original  negatives 
showing  this  same  frost.  The  frost  quite  threw 
into  the  shade  the  little  south  polar  cap.  There 
are  some  very  interesting  points  about  this  appari- 
tion which  I  am  now  working  up  and  from  which 
I  desist  simply  to  write  to  you.  The  first  frost 
does  not  appear  in  the  neighborhood  of  the  Cap 
but  way  down  in  latitude  59°  and  the  interesting 
thing  is  that  this  is  exactly  where  the  loss  by  night 
from  the  warmth  received  by  day  on  a  nearly  air- 
less planet  comes  out  at  its  least  residual,  i.  e.,  here 
it  should  be  coldest  at  sunrise.  It  is  curious,  is  it 
not,  that  the  morning  autumnal  frost  should  be 
not  at  the  pole  but  way  down  in  almost  temperate 
latitudes?  Yet  such  follows  from  theory  and  as 
you  now  see  is  confirmed  by  observation. 

On  the  14th  we  sat  up  observing  and  recuperat- 
ing till  6  A.  M.  It  was  the  only  good  night  we 
have  had  for  some  time  and  we  made  the  most  of 
it.  I  was  pretty  well  used  up  the  next  day.  We 


An  Afterglow 


took  several  consecutive  plates,  as  I  think  I  wrote 
you,  the  frost  coming  out  saliently  on  all. 

I  wonder  how  the  new  "Soul  of  the  Far  East" 
is  getting  on  and  out  in  its  new  autumn  jacket. 

If  you  are  suffering  from  a  blizzard  corporeally, 
we  too  have  felt  it  celestially.  The  weather  really 
ought  to  be  better  attended  to.  Tell  Mr.  A.  L. 
Rotch. 


Percival  Lowell 


MARS    HILL 

I  told  you,  did  I  not,  that  I  flushed  high  upon 
a  ridge  in  the  White  Mts.  (ours,  the  Arizonian) 
seven  enormous  grouse  that  I  took  to  be  wild  tur- 
keys? The  only  life  I  saw  there  though  I  came 
across  bear  tracks,  I  think;  and  a  mountain  lion 
came  and  looked  at  our  camp,  as  his  foot  writing 
revealed  the  next  morning. 

Mars  is  all  right,  but,  between  us  and  him,  has 
been  atrocious.  He  is  sending  you  by  this  mail 
the  portraits  he  promised  you  showing  him  in  his 
newly  donned  ermine. 

Look  30°  to  the  right  of  the  tiny  south  polar 
cap  and  you  will  see  the  new  frost  and  by  com- 
paring the  two  plates  sent  you  of  longitudes  40° 
apart  you  will  see  the  white  never  entered  detached 
on  the  disk  proving  that  it  melted  as  the  sun  rose. 


98 


THE   STUDY  WINDOW — FLAGSTAFF 


An  Afterglow 


LOWELL  OBSERVATORY 
FLAGSTAFF 

The  opposition  last  night  celebrated  itself  by 
giving  us  unf  ocusable  images,  they  were  so  bad. 

MARS'  HILL 
The  most  beautiful  Christmas  decorations  I  have 

ever  seen.    The  wreath,  a  Martian  one,  is  gorgeous 

and  the  star-lantern-house  sans  pareil. 

Thank  you  for  the  Christmas  card  that  came  by 

itself.    And  as  for  the  one  you  enclosed  for  Mr.  S. 

it  was  so  lovely  that  it  now  adorns  my  bureau. 

Conversion  this  is  called,  not  theft. 
All  brightness  for  the  New  Year. 

LOWELL  OBSERVATORY 
FLAGSTAFF 

Here  are  our  first  results.  The  Canals,  you  will 
perceive,  are  much  more  salient  than  they  were  in 
1909 — as  I  expected. 

The  car  arrived  yesterday  afternoon  and  on  the 
hill  this  morning.  Amazing  swift  transit  smashing 
the  records. 

Regular  thunderstorm  on  at  this  moment. 

The  Barrett  Wendells  came  on  Monday  and  left 
on  Wednesday,  he  having  seen  the  Canals. 


99 


Percival  Lowell 


MARS'  HILL 


You  got  my  telegram  on  Saturday  night  about 
the  old-new  South  sent  to  keep  you  au  courant  with 
things  Martian. 

AT  SEA 

This  is  the  way  we  expected  to  look  tomorrow 
morning  at  9  A.  M.,  at  which  hour  we  are  now 
told  to  look  forward  not  back. 

HOTEL  DE  LA  METROPOLE 
MONTPELLIER 

Just  a  word  to  say  hot  enough  for  the  enclosed. 
Also  please  send  "Mars  as  the  Abode  of  Life"  and 
"The  Evolution  of  Worlds"  with  my  card  to: 
M.  le  Professor  Moye 
3  Rue  Achille-Bege 
Montpellier 
He'rault 
France 

The  latter  he  has  asked  to  translate.    Or  rather 
he  asked  to  translate  another  and  I  chose  the  last. 
Am  off  for  an  automobile  afternoon  with  the 
President  of  the  Astronomical  Society  here. 


100 


An  Afterglow 


HOTEL  MIRABEAU,  PARIS 

What  a  nice  "bufday"  note  that  was!  It  gave 
me  pleasure  at  the  occasion  and  tempered  the  re- 
gret with  which  I  passed  another  milestone.  And 
how  nice  I  thought  that  lunch,  almost  as  much  as 
Prof.  M.  undoubtedly  did.  It  was  a  happy  idea 
and  I  can  see  that  cozy,  withdrawn  room  (with- 
drawing room  shows  what  has  always  been  asso- 
ciated with  the  best)  in  its  quiet  half  light,  so  near 
and  yet  so  far  from  the  turmoil  of  the  town.  From 
what  you  write  me  Mrs.  S.  must  be  an  eminently 
intelligent  woman  which  still  further  pedestals  the 
lunch. 

After  arriving  at  Monaco  on  the  16th,  we  went 
to  stay  at  the  Villa  Sylvia  (the  Ralph  Curtis's) 
until  Monday,  the  25th.  Then  to  Avignon,  Aries, 
Nimes  and  Montpellier  where  M.  Moye  awaited 
us.  The  next  day  he  brought  round  the  president 
of  the  local  Astronomical  Society  who  did  every- 
thing you  can  conceive  of  and  more,  beginning  with 
an  automobile  trip  that  afternoon,  an  introduction 
to  the  Manager  of  his  Automobile  Club  and  the 
hiring  thus  of  a  car  under  the  best  auspices  for  my 
tour  through  the  Cevennes  and  ending  with  a 
grand  lunch  the  next  day  at  his  chateau  after  miles 
out  of  town.  And  on  my  arrival  here,  behold  a  case 
of  wine  to  greet  me !  Really  on  me  pourait  mieuoc. 
Hospitality  becomes  a  weak  word  in  comparison. 
M.  Moye  also,  indeed  first,  was  most  welcoming. 
He  is  Professor  of  Law  in  the  University  and  a 
man  very  highly  thought  of. 

101 


Percival  Lowell 


HOTEL  MIRABEATJ 
8  RUE  DE  LA  PAIX,  PARIS 

I  got  this  notice  at  the  after-tenth  hour  last 
night;  jumped  into  a  taxi;  was  whizzed  there;  en- 
tered by  the  corridor. 

Flammarion  was  notified ;  escorted  by  him  to  the 
centre ^  of  the  platform;  assembly  informed; 
greeted;  answered  with  the  discovery  of  Uranus 
rotation  period,  showed  Saturn  photographed  as 
desired  though  only  a  positive,  etc. 


102 


LOWELL    OBSERVATORY    ECLIPSE    TRIP    TO    TRIPOLI SETTING    UP 


An  Afterglow 


HOTEL    MIRABEATJ 
8  RUE  DE  LA  PAIX,  PARIS 

In  view  of  the  "Titanic"  disaster  I  cannot  be  sure 
that  all  my  letters  or  other  mail  has  reached  Amer- 
ica. In  consequence  it  would  be  well  to  find  out 
if  Senator  Crane  received  an  answer  to  his  last 
letter  to  me  which  I  despatched  to  you  in  which 
he  notified  me  that  the  Chief  Forester  had  said  I 
could  use  dead  pine  and  cut  live  oaks  for  fencing 
the  section  west  at  Flagstaff  and  asked  if  that 
would  be  satisfactory.  To  which  I  replied  that 
it  would  not;  that  I  should  not  cut  live  oak  will- 
ingly; that  what  I  wished  to  cut  were  young  pine, 
under  eight  inches  in  diameter  and  that  I  probably 
had  a  legal  right  so  to  do  anyway.  Of  course  if 
you  got  my  letter  he  got  mine  too.  Otherwise 
please  find  out. 

Many  pleasant  dinners  and  lunches  the  past  two 
weeks ;  a  dinner  at  Flammarion's,  one  at  Baillaud's, 
the  director  of  the  Paris  Observatory;  a  lunch  at 
M.  Boutroux,  the  director  of  the  Fondation  Thiers 
(he  was  the  French  lecturer  at  Harvard  a  year 
or  so  ago) ,  a  talk  before  the  Bureau  des  Longitudes, 
observation  of  the  eclipse  with  de  La  Baume-Pluv- 
inel  at  St.  Germain,  where  I  met  among  others 
Cowell  of  the  British  Nautical  Almanac  and  Tur- 
ner on  the  way  out,  who  asked  me  to  dine  with  him 
that  evening  but  I  regretted.  Of  the  seance  of 
the  Astronomical  Society — I  wrote  you  before. 


103 


Percival  Lowell 


PKINCES'  HOTEL 


ST.  JAMES,  LONDON,  S.  W. 

Now  you  may  stop  my  mail. 

Meanwhile  a  round  of  scientific  social  gaieties. 
Tomorrow,  Tuesday,  dinner  and  spending  of  the 
night  at  Wycombe  Court  with  the  Worthingtons. 
Wednesday,  dinner  with  Prof.  Boys,  and  the  Pres- 
ident and  selected  members  of  the  Royal  Society 
at  the  New  Automobile  Club  considered  at  the 
moment  the  last  touch  in  munificence.  Then  on 
to  the  soiree  of  the  Royal  Society  where  the  Lowell 
Oby.'s  latest  results  are  to  be  exhibited.  Friday 
tea  and  meeting  of  the  Royal  Astronomical  Society 
where  the  President  (Dyson)  now  Astronomer 
Royal  wants  me  to  talk.  Afterwards  to  the  R.  A.  S. 
Club's — sanctum  sanctorum,  a  sort  of  culled  elite 
of  the  Society — dinner  as  the  President's  (Glai- 
sher)  guest;  and  so  forth  and  so  on.  They  are  sur- 
prisingly attentive. 

Shaw,  head  of  England's  meteorologic  service, 
at  least  he  was  two  years  ago  and  I  suppose  still  is, 
with  whom  we  lunch  on  Friday,  feels  Lawrence 
Rotch's  death  keenly.  It  was  so  unnecessary,  his 
death. 

Considering  that  I  came  to  England  for  my 
clothes  you  will  be  astounded  to  learn  that  the  very 
morning  I  arrived  at  my  tailor's,  his  tailors  went 
on  a  strike  and  are  at  this  moment  parading  Lon- 
don. My  cutter  is  going  to  baste  my  coats  himself, 
very  kindly,  but  when  I  shall  get  them  I  do  not 
know, — such  is  modern  life. 

104 


An  Afterglow 


PRINCES'  HOTEL 
ST.  JAMES,  LONDON,  S.  W. 

The  crowded  astronomical  work  is  now  over  and 
I  rest  with  content.  The  dinner  of  Prof.  Boys  at 
the  new  Automobile  Club  was  small  and  select. — 
We  sat  in  the  following  order 

Prof.  Boys 

Sir  Archibald  Geikie  Lord  Rayleigh 

Percival  Lowell  Parsons 

Sir  David  Gill  Sir  William  Ramsey 

H.  H.  Turner  Sir  Oliver  Lodge 

Boys'  son 

Then  on  to  the  soiree  of  the  Royal  Society  where 
the  Lowell  Ob'y.  photographs  and  drawings  were 
exhibited.  They  occasioned  great  interest  and  were 
the  most  crowded  of  all  the  scientific  shows.  Worth- 
ington  was  there  and  did  his  part  well.  The  younger 
the  examiners  the  more  they  saw.  The  Uranus  ro- 
tation everyone  could  perceive.  Several  other  ex- 
hibits were  striking,  especially  the  shooting  out  of 
the  x-rays  of  radium,  visible  as  they  condensed  the 
moisture  in  the  air  of  their  cell. 

On  Friday  the  day  began  with  a  lunch  by  Dr. 
Shaw,  the  head  of  the  meteorological  service  of 
Great  Britain.  There  were  six  of  us,  Sir  Norman 
and  Lady  Lockyer  being  the  other  two.  Then  to 
the  tea  of  the  Royal  Astronomical  Society,  and 
the  meeting  afterwards,  at  which  I  spoke.  Then  to 
the  R.  A.  S.  Club  dinner  at  which  they  did  me  the 
honor  to  make  me  the  chief  guest.  They  were  all 
very  complimentary  and  attentive,  with  constant 

105 


Percival  Lowell 


reference  in  the  several  after  dinner  speeches.  Sir 
David  is  particularly  affectionate  which  however 
is  his  wont.  We  ended  the  evening  by  walking 
home  together.  Tonight  we  dine  with  Sir  Norman 
and  Lady  Lockyer  and  tomorrow  go  to  the  good 
Townshends  at  Oxford. 


106 


PERCIVAL    LOWELL,    L  L.  D. 


An  Afterglow 


PRINCES'  HOTEL 
ST.  JAMES,  LONDON,  S.  W. 

You  did  cleverly  to  find  out  about  Sakura  no 
Saka.  It  might  mean  "The  Hill  of  the  Cherry- 
tree,"  the  position  of  words  in  a  Japanese  sentence 
being  the  opposite  of  ours.  What  I  meant  by  it 
I  cannot  now  recall. 

The  tailor  strike  is  ending  so  I  have  hopes  of 
getting  my  clothes  and  convoying  them  with  me  in 
bond  to  Boston.  One  overcoat  I  actually  wore 
today.  It  is  handsomely  lined  in  green!  Servants 
are  secured.  May  they  remain  secured  and  sat- 
isfactory. 

BOSTON 
The  Xacting  planet  is  exacting  enough  in  all 

conscience  but  so  it  ought  to  be  as  you  see  by  the 

above. 

I  am  off  shortly  for  another  week-end  which  as 

you  say  are  nice  and  fresh  airy. 

MALVERN  HOTEL 
BAR  HARBOR 

Bouncing  Bets  all  along  the  garden  side — not 
semi-wild  but  of  these  days  and  tame.  Thought 
you  would  like  to  know.  Also,  mirabile  dictu,  blue 
sky  but  pale. 


107 


Percival  Lowell 


LOWELL  OBSERVATORY 

Monday  I  took  a  walk  on  the  mesa,  toward  the 
dump  and  back  by  the  road-runner  thicket  (where 
the  bird  was  found  by  me;  we  found  only  his  trail 
afterward  you  remember) .  The  snow  I  measured, 
25  inches  deep  in  the  drifts  between  the  trees.  But 
not  a  spoor  of  anything  but  one  squirrel. 

Yesterday  I  went  southwestward  to  the  new 
fence,  a  fine  substantial  structure  and  on  the  hither 
side  of  Wolf  Canon  on  the  flat  this  side  of  the  su- 
machs I  found  the  first  flower,  a  little  white  thing 
of  four  petals  amid  lobelike  purple  leaves.  You 
will  probably  recall  the  name.  It  was  growing  in 
the  soggy  marsh  ground  left  by  the  melting  snow. 

Today  a  regular  old-fashioned  snow-storm  cov- 
erliding  plants,  trees  and  everything.  The  bulbs 
in  front  of  the  dining-room  were  just  beginning  to 
spike  up  yesterday.  Now  they  will  have  to  await 
another  resurrection. 


108 


An  Afterglow 


DEEP  COVE 
INDIAN  POINT,  MAINE 

This  is  first  to  thank  you  for  your  note  and  sec- 
ond to  welcome  you  back. 

Sea-urchins  abound  here  and  flounders  may  be 
seen  on  the  bottom  in  shoal  water  at  low  tide. 

I  am  in  the  nicest  little  bungalow,  made  of  port- 
able houses — a  bedroom  and  a  sitting  room  each 
10  ft.  by  12.5  with  an  outside  porch  verandah.  The 
sides  of  the  sitting  room  are  all  patent  windows 
which  hoist  up  or  down  most  ingeniously.  The 
front  the  same  with  a  window-door,  the  back  alone 
a  wall  and  with  another  door.  The  bedroom  equally 
perfect.  Mine  is  encased  in  mosquito  netting  at  all 
the  windows  so  that  the  breeze  enters  but  not  the 
flies.  Ideal! 


109 


PercivdL  Lowell 


DEEP  COVE 

INDIAN  POINT,  MAINE 

I  am  glad  you  stayed  on.  I  have  just  taken  the 
picture  of  my  bungalow  which  you  shall  have  when 
it  is  grown  up,  i.  e.,  developed. 

Forty  seals  barking  on  a  reef  and  plunging  into 
the  water  when  we  turned  the  corner  interrupting 
their  sea  party!  How  is  that? 

DEEP  COVE 

INDIAN  POINT,  MAINE 
Welcome  to  Maine! 

I  hope  the  journey  up  was  not  oppressively  hot. 
You  are  just  in  time  for  the  blueberries;  and  cool 
nights.  It  was  57°  F.  last  evening  when  I  reached 
my  bungalow  sitting  room  after  dinner  and  I  spent 
the  evening  in  my  overcoat. 


110 


An  Afterglow 


LOWELL  OBSERVATORY 
FLAGSTAFF 

That  was  a  nice  note  of  Sunday  last.  Now  what 
you  want  is  news  from  here.  The  skeletons  of  our 
recent  successes  you  have  been  sent  at  once:  first 
the  determining  of  the  previousness  of  the  Fasti- 
gium  Aryan  showing  the  ephemeris  wrong  (called 
away  here  to  see  Venus)  then  the  detection  of  the 
rotation  periods  of  Tethys  and  Dione;  lastly  what  I 
arranged  for  and  hoped  I  might  succeed  in  but 
doubted.  You  will  remember  our  letters  and  tele- 
grams out  here — seeing  the  Canals  with  the  full 
aperture  of  the  40  in.  The  latter  was  difficult  but 
— there  they  were  by  diligent  looking.  You  shall 
have  prints  of  both  my  and  Mr.  E.  C.  S.'s  draw- 
ings. This  was  the  night  before  Professor  Willson 
arrived,  since  then  no  seeing  to  speak  of  and  a 
great  snow  storm. — Nevertheless  he  has  seen  many 
Canals  ill  and  one  Canal  well.  He  feels  he  is  get- 
ting on.  He  always  believed  but  is  now  seeing 
for  himself.  The  blue  belt  about  the  shrinking 
cap  was  one  thing  he  particularly  wished  to  see 
and  that  he  has  seen.  He  has  been  exorcising  the 
imps  who  make  bad  seeing  and  is  happy  and  calm. 


Ill 


Percival  Lowell 


LOWELL  OBSERVATORY 
FLAGSTAFF 

Bravo !  for  what  you  wrote  of  your  astronomical 
evening  at  the  H.  U.  Ast.  Laboratory!  You  are 
a  true  Martian  and  one  to  be  proud  of.  Meanwhile 
the  Director  of  the  above-mentioned  laboratory  has 
been  having  the  time  of  his  life  thanks  to  his  own 
good  expert  eyesight.  His  strides  in  detection 
have  beaten  all  records — blue  water  round  the  melt- 
ing cap,  canals  seen  better  and  better  each  night 
until  finally  doubles  and  straight  narrow  lines. 
After  giving  him  a  long  wait  nature  relented,  show- 
ing him  first  a  projection,  a  rare  event  and  then 
last  night  seeing  8-9,  in  which  E.  C.  Slipher  discov- 
ered a  new  division  in  Saturn's  ring  B  near  the 
Crape  ring  which  he,  Prof.  Willson,  saw  perfectly 
and  finally  belts  and  oblateness  of  Neptune,  the 
latter  of  which  I  suspected  Jan.  19.  Truly  his 
visit  came  to  an  end  in  a  blaze  of  glory  which  he 
greatly  appreciated.  He  burst  out  in  the  den  with 
"This  is  the  happiest  moment  of  my  life." 

Telegrams  go  to  you  of  all  these  finds  or  have 
gone.  Neptune  yet  needs  confirmation  which  I 
may  attempt  tonight. 


112 


An  Afterglow 


LOWELL  OBSERVATORY 
FLAGSTAFF 

Great  pleasure  your  two  letters  just  received 
have  given  me :  one  with  just  the  news  I  wanted  and 
the  other  with  that  gorgeously  attired  "jack."  I 
was  delighted  by  the  one  and  touched  by  the  other. 

Prof.  Willson  is  going  especially  in  to  see  you, 
as  I  think  I  wrote  you;  probably  he  has  already  told 
you. 

As  a  slight  return  to  you  I  enclose  you  pictures 
of  snow  and  clouds  from  Mars'  Hill.  We  are  send- 
ing Prof.  Very  today  the  latest  spectograms  of 
Mars  and  the  Moon  for  measurement  of  water- 
vapor  and  oxygen.  Also  I  am  starting  Mr.  Lamp- 
land  on  photographs  of  Saturn  and  his  satellites  to 
show  to  all  eyes  the  latter's  variability. 

More  anon. 


113 


Percival  Lowell 


LOWELL  OBSERVATORY 
FLAGSTAFF 

I  found  the  first  flowers  on  the  mesa,  the  little 
white  snow-flowers,  on  Feb.  28  on  the  plateau  east 
of  Wolf  Canon,  almost  or  rather  on  both  sides  of 
the  spot  where  we  found  the  baby  jack-rabbit.  It 
sends  you  its  regards. 

I  have  also  found  earth-stars  wandering  about, 
one  of  which  I  picked  up  for  you.  Indeed  I  pock- 
eted one  before  for  the  same  reason  but  it  vanished. 
I  knew  you  would  like  to  be  kept  abreast  of  the 
flora. 

Will  you  please  have  several  more  complete  sets 
of  prints  made  of  the  various  globes  of  Mars. 

Now  that  we  have  got  into  the  planet's  own 
month  the  time  for  leaving  him  draws  near.  How- 
ever here  it  has  been  spring  for  some  time;  while 
in  Boston  it  is  polar.  So  one  feels  well  off  in  being 
far  off. 

A  little  white  bull  we  had  here  when  I  came,  and 
which  I  sent  away,  was  killed  just  under  Elden 
Mt.  on  the  south  by  mountain  lions  the  other  day. 

LOWELL  OBSERVATORY 
FLAGSTAFF 

Am  bringing  back  many  photographs  of  tracks ; 
mountain  lion,  jack-rabbit,  skunks. 


114 


An  Afterglow 


PRINCES    HOTEL,  LONDON 

That  man's  interview,  of  which  I  have  just  seen 
a  copy,  was  most  reprehensible.  Did  he  ever  send 
the  proof?  If  so,  the  "IV  should  have  been  left 
out  and  the  whole  thing  toned  to  respectability; 
if  not  he  should  get  a  wigging  from  his  Editor  for 
misquotation  and  bad  taste. 

We  saw  schools  of  porpoises  when  two  hundred 
miles  out  and  later,  a  hundred  miles  from  Bishop's 
Rock  ran  right  through  the  middle  of  a  trawler's 
seine  a  mile  long  at  least. 


115 


Percival  Lowell 


HOTEL    CHATHAM 
PARIS 

Yesterday  I  lunched  at  the  Flammarions  with 
Loie  Fuller.  She  speaks  French  fluently.  The 
day  was  the  day  of  Saint  Medard  of  which  an  old 
proverb  says:  "S'il  pleut  le  jour  de  Saint  Medard 
II  pleuvra  quarante  jours  plus  tard." 

Now  it  rained  before  and  thundered  during  lunch 
and  at  the  Eiffel  Tower  where  Flammarion  and 
Loie  Fuller  went  afterwards  to  inspect  it  for  a 
dance  on  the  Fete  du  Soleil  on  the  22nd  instant — 
taking  me  along  part  way  with  them — there  broke 
a  thundering  hailstorm  so  that  Paris  was  white  and 
Flammarion  wrote  about  it  of  course  to  the  Herald. 

Today  I  have  been  trying  to  get  the  Conncds- 
sance  des  Temps  for  1849  with  Leverrier's  memoir 
in  it  and  have  so  far  failed,  though  I  went  to  Gau- 
thiers-Villars,  the  publishers. 


116 


An  Afterglow 


HOTEL  CHATHAM 
PARIS 

Dr.  Slipher's  discovery  occasioning  great  inter- 
est and  admiration.  Deslandres  yesterday,  at  a 
lunch  he  gave  me,  quite  enthusiastically  complimen- 
tary about  the  Lowell  Ob'y.  work.  Cela  marche, 
meme  ca  court. 

Thank  you  I  am  better — and  the  weather  has 
been  absolutely  cold;  have  had  to  sit  in  my  parlor 
with  my  overcoat  on.  Hardly  a  too  warm  hour 
since  I  landed  in  England. 

Gale,  of  comet  fame,  on  his  way  from  his  native 
Australia,  New  South  Wales,  to  London,  was  at 
Deslandres'  lunch  and  wanted  information  about 
setting  up  a  solar  observatory. 

There  are  fewer  foreigners  abroad  this  year  than 
usual — another  proof  of  hard  times. 


ny 


Percival  Lowell 


HOTEL  CHATHAM 
PARIS 

Paris  is  hardly  itself  this  year:  the  tourists  are 
few ;  the  costumes  caricatures  and  generally  hideous 
at  that ;  the  weather  that  of  February.  The  cold  I 
like.  It  is  not  so  bad  as  it  was.  I  can  sit  now  in 
my  parlor  without  an  overcoat,  of  course  with  all 
my  winter  clothes  on.  Nevertheless  last  night  they 
celebrated  the  Fete  du  Soleil  on  the  Eiffel  Tower. 
I  went  and  except  for  the  length  of  the  festivities 
enjoyed  the  affair.  Met  M.  Eiffel,  Lallement  of 
the  Bureau  des  Longitudes,  etc.,  etc.  Escaped 
nearly  dead. 

On  Wednesday  I  showed  our  latest  results  to  the 
Bureau  des  Longitudes.  It  made  ffun  grand  effet" 
according  to  Deslandres.  There  werte  a  dozen 
there  including  Baillaud,  Andoyer,  Darboux,  Pi- 
card,  Bigourdan,  Ct.  de  La  Baume,  Pluvinel,  the 
Admiral  Fougaet,  Deslandres  and  others. 

This  morning  arrived  prints  of  Mr.  Lake's  last 
two  globes:  mine  and  Mr.  Slipher's  for  1914.  Of 
course  I  can  only  judge  of  their  general  appearance 
except  a  few  things  that  strike  me  and  had  better  be 
changed.  Slipher's  770  is  my  746;  the  northern 
parts  of  mine  and  the  Syrtis  Major  should  be  a  lit- 
tle darker.  Perhaps  a  little  different  printing  would 
bring  out  the  proper  effect. 


118 


An  Afterglow 


THE  PRINCES    HOTEL  AND  RESTAURANT 
JERMYN  STREET,  LONDON,  S.  W. 

It  is  a  matter  of  surprise  to  me  that  no  copies  of 
Dr.  Slipher's  article  in  the  Scientific  American  nor 
of  mine  in  the  Astronomical  Journal  appear. 

The  prints  just  come  of  the  1914  globe  of  mine 
are  on  the  whole  very  good,  but  in  the  0°  meridian 
one  the  whole  top  (south) ,  i.  e.,  the  seas  are  too  light 
especially  the  Sabasus  Sinus  and  ditto  for  the  90° 
meridian  one.  Perhaps  it  is  not  in  the  globe  but 
a  question  of  negative  or  printing. 

During  my  last  days  in  Paris  I  went  to  the 
Palais  Royal  Theatre  to  see  "Jose  pas,"  a  timid 
young  man  who  in  consequence  gets  into  many 
scrapes.  Exceedingly  funny  and  unnecessarily 
coarse.  It  could  easily  be  made  less  vulgar  and 
would  then  delight  the  American  stage.  I  hope 
some  playwright  will  undertake  it.  I  take  it  I 
told  you  I  saw  "La  Belle  Aventure"  some  weeks 
ago.  A  very  pretty  play  where  the  girl  elopes 
from  marrying  an  uncongenial  man  and  then  from 
a  set  of  chances  gets  into  most  peculiar  situations, 
all  of  which  is  duly  explained  away.  An  old  grand- 
mother still  young  at  heart  is  the  occasion  of  much 
of  the  complication  and  plays  very  well.  Here  I 
went  to  see  "The  Marriage  Market"  last  Wednes- 
day and  it  was  so  dull  I  was  glad  to  make  my  es- 
cape. 


119 


Percival  Lowell 


THE  PRINCES    HOTEL  AND  RESTAURANT 
JERMYN  STREET,  LONDON,  S.  W. 

Sir  William  Crookes  made  for  me  a  cobalt  glass 
screen  through  which  grass  and  trees  look  green 
and  wanted  me  to  try  it  on  Mars.  I  tried  it  antic- 
ipatorily  on  the  dog,  i.e.,  an  ochre  carpet  and  found 
that  that  as  well  turned  red.  So  as  it  works  the  same 
on  the  just  so  and  the  not- just  so,  no  discovery  is 
possible.  Furthermore  to  determine  anything  it 
would  have  to  react  on  chlorophyl  alone  which  it 
does  not,  any  blue-green  being  grist  to  its  mill.  He 
is  a  dear  soul.  Next  year  but  one  he  hopes  to  cele- 
brate his  diamond  wedding. 


120 


An  Afterglow 


THE  PRINCES'  HOTEL  AND  RESTAURANT 

JERMYN  STREET,  LONDON,  S.  W. 
Your  two  good  letters,  of  the  14th  and  the  17th 
have  just  come  and  the  afternoon  is  all  the  brighter 
for  them.  To  escape  that  heat  is  almost  worth 
the  price  of  a  passage  to  this  side.  Your  clothes 
paragraph  struck  a  responsive  chord  for  I  have 
just  succeeded,  after  prolonged  mental  agony,  in 
getting  my  new  ones  to  fit.  I  am  now  cladable  in 
decent  garments  in  the  latest  style.  I  am  so  proud 
of  them  I  am  afraid  they  will  sink  in  mid-ocean. 
Speaking  of  which  a  new  idea  has  just  come  to 
me,  which  I  hasten  to  instruct  you  of  in  case  any- 
thing should  happen  to  me,  which  may  it  not!  I 
want  all  my  mathematical  papers,  including  the 
present  X  investigation  collected  from  all  the 
periodicals,  etc.,  and  published  in  a  volume  entitled 

Papers  on 
Celestial  Mechanics 

and 

Celestial  Physics 
Vol.  1 

by 

P.  L. 

printed  in  large  type  so  as  to  fill  a  fair-sized  book. 
Foila!  As  you  know  I  gave  up  the  semi-alluring 
polar  trip — it  was  too  long  and  too  touristy  and 
crowded  to  suit  me — and  am  now  looking  forward 
to  a  more  congenial  one,  the  trip  homeward.  In- 
deed I  mean  to  be  on  the  water  before  these  lines 
have  reached  the  other  side.  They  are  confided  to 

121 


Percival  Lowell 


the  same  steamer  that  brought  me  over,  the  good 
if  not  the  fastest  George  Washington.  In  this 
attribute  it  does  not  share  wholly  the  character  of 
its  illustrious  namesake  as  unwritten  history  in- 
forms us. 

The  season  here  has  closed;  did  so  about  mid- 
July  with  the  Eton  and  Harrow  Cricket  match  and 
the  country  is  now  preparing  for  Civil  War.  The 
Asquith  ministry  is,  I  am  glad  to  say,  going  to 
pieces.  My  presents  are  also  housed  practically  in 
toto. 

So  you  see  I  have  not  forgotten  what  you  were 
thoughtful  enough  also  to  write.  I  hope  Ritchie 
and  Lundin  will  like  theirs.  A  most  amusing  let- 
ter of  thanks  from  Dr.  Bigelow. 


122 


An  Afterglow 


CHATHAM,  MASS. 

An  excellent  place.  Went  out  today  in  a  motor- 
boat  to  myself  and  round  over  Nauset  Beach  with 
the  boatman.  Found  least-tern  eggs,  only  place 
where  they  still  exist. 

YORK,   MAINE 

A  U.  S.  gunboat  has  just  passed  leisurely  in  the 
offing.  The  baby  crop  of  browntails  is  just  out  of 
the  egg.  Found  them  this  morning.  I  passed  a 
pleasant  day  Thursday-Friday  at  the  Putnam's 
Manchester. 

BOSTON 

Your  telegram  arrived  yesterday — I  am  glad 
everything  went  off  well  including  the  weather. 
We  have  been  having  an  amazing  hot  spell,  two 
days  of  90°. 

I  picked  up  the  northern  comet  the  other  even- 
ing with  the  naked  eye — night  before  last  and  veri- 
fied it  with  the  glass.  It  is  brightening  and  moving 
west  fast. 


123 


Percival  Lowell 


LOWELL  OBSERVATORY 
FLAGSTAFF 

This  follows  fast  after  you  though  it  will  not 
overtake  you  for  many  days  to  wish  you  a  success- 
ful journey  and  to  say  how  happy  and  comfortable 
you  made  everything  here,  the  good  you  did  living 
after  you  in  the  guise  of  that  superb  drawing-room, 
so  called  also  because  it  draws  everyone  thither — 
and  in  the  relict,  Sheckels,  who  so  far  runs  on  well. 

By  comparing  the  oak-tree  in  front  of  the  B.  M. 
with  its  presentments  in  the  photographic  album 
you  so  thoughtfully  made,  Mr.  Lampland  and  I 
this  morning  proved  that  it  had  very  surprisingly 
grown  and  we  are  going  to  re-photograph  it  from 
the  same  points  as  years  ago. 


124 


OAK    TREE    AND    ITS    BIG    BROTHER,    THE    PINE, 
IN    FRONT   OF   THE    B.    M.    ("BARONIAL    MANSION") 


An  Afterglow 


LOWELL  OBSERVATORY 
FLAGSTAFF 

Yesterday  I  went  on  a  trip  to  Sycamore  Canon 
to  explore  it  for  trees.  And  most  successful  it  was. 
Sykes  I  got  to  go  with  me  in  his  car,  together  with 
his  boy,  Guy.  The  trip  was  hard  but  this  morning 
I  seem  to  be  all  the  better  for  it.  In  places  the 
road  out  there  was  excellent,  in  others  execrable. 
So  that  our  speed  varied  from  0  to  25  miles  an  hour 
— It  took  us  three  hours  from  the  electric  light 
plant  down  town,  where  we  stopped  to  light  up — 
our  cigars — to  the  outer  rim  of  the  Canon.  From 
there  we  journeyed  on  foot  about  two  hours  down, 
bagging  trees,  through  what  I  named  Maple 
Canon  for  the  number  of  western  maples  found 
there — not  the  ash-leaved  maple,  though  there  were 
plenty  of  them  but  probably  a  new  species,  a  point 
which  will  be  decided  later  at  the  Arnold  Arbore- 
tum. Also  berries  at  last  of  the  new  species  of 
Juniper.  I  found  in  Oak  Creek  but  could  get  no 
berries  of — And  other  interesting  things  too  num- 
erous to  mention!  It  is  a  fine  land  for  future  ex- 
ploration and  I  mean  to  explore  it.  But  one  must 
camp  out  to  do  so. 


125 


Percival  Lowell 


LOWELL  OBSERVATORY 
FLAGSTAFF 

One  week  ago  today  Sykes'  son  and  I  started 
on  an  exploring  expedition  to  Sycamore  Canon, 
a  terra  incognito  considered  the  wildest  and  rough- 
est in  Arizona.  We  left  too  bright  and  early  for 
me,  and  it  took  us  three  hours  to  get  to  the  outer 
rim  of  the  Canon.  Thence  we  descended  for  an 
hour  and  a  half.  We  were  rewarded,  not  by  the 
Canon  itself,  for  we  only  got  down  about  half  way 
or  a  thousand  feet,  but  by  what  I  went  for,  trees 
and  shrubs.  We  entered  by  what  I  named  Maple 
Creek  because  of  the  numbers  of  western  sugar 
maple  we  found  there,  not  large  and  imposing 
trees  like  our  Eastern  variety  but  pretty,  snub- 
nosed,  f  oliaged  ones.  Walnuts  were  there  and  great 
alders  a  hundred  feet  high ;  the  flora  resembling  that 
of  Oak  Creek  only  more  so.  By  the  time  we  had 
reached  what  we  deemed  must  be  our  Ultima  Thule 
we  suddenly  came  upon  a  deserted  log  cabin  beside 
a  spray  of  clear  water  and  what  especially  delighted 
me,  one  of  the  new  Juniper  I  had  particularly 
sought,  and  with  fruit!  Prof.  Sargent  had  en- 
joined me  to  find  such.  The  tree  was  the  one  I  dis- 
covered in  Oak  Creek  but  that  was  fruitless.  The 
spot  was  also  a  walnut  grove  but  the  nuts  resembled 
pig  nuts  rather  than  the  nut  of  Jove  (Juglans). 
After  eating  a  frugal  lunch  we  toiled  back.  I 
should  have  said  that  our  introduction  to  the  strange 
flora  came  in  the  guise  of  a  J.  pachyphlora  (you  re- 

126 


An  Afterglow 


call  the  noble  one  at  the  head  of  the  little  amphi- 
theatre) but  with  enormous  fruit,  the  berries  reach- 
ing 15mm.  in  diameter.  Think  how  a  tree  laden 
with  them  would  look  in  Boston  in  a  park. 


127 


Percival  Lowell 


LOWELL  OBSERVATORY 
FLAGSTAFF 

Thank  you  for  the  photographs.  They  are  cap- 
ital! 

I  gave  Sheckels  his  at  once  and  he  was  tickled 
with  it  and  was  going  to  mount  it  immediately. 
One  you  took  of  him — near  the  cedars — is  excellent 
and  very  flattering. 

I  leave  here  on  the  morning  of  the  12th. 

We  have  been  making  some  good  observations 
and  measures  of  Uranus.  His  oblateness  is  most 
manifest.  Did  I  tell  you  that  Prof.  Fox  has  writ- 
ten me  expressing  his  delight  at  his  visit  and  asking 
me  to  entertain  his  University  Club  on  Saturday 
night  the  14th  Nov.?  I  have  accepted  and  shall 
leave  Chicago  Sunday,  arriving  in  New  York  Mon- 
day morning  and  probably  Tuesday  at  6  P.  M. 
reach  Boston. 

Mr.  Gill  who  left  here  Thursday  expressed  a  wish 
to  be  present,  at  which  I  was  pleased. 


128 


An  Afterglow 


MARS'  HILL 

Oh!  I  am  sorry  about  the  eye  and  more  than 
glad  that  the  pin  missed  the  mark.  "Pins  may  have 
saved  the  lives  of  a  great  many  people  by  not  swal- 
lowing them"  but  they  are  dangerous  things  for 
all  that. 

Shortly  I  hope  to  send  you  more  of  Mars'  pic- 
tures. We  have  had  the  worst  season  I  have  ever 
known,  not  one  first-class  day  so  far  and  only  one 
or  two  second-class  ones.  East  winds  on  end. 
What  folks  characterize  as  beautiful  weather  and 
worse  than  a  storm  for  sight. 

I  hope  Thanksgiving  in  the  far  woods  was  ideal. 

Here  there  has  been  no  snow  as  yet.  Even  the 
peaks  which  some  three  weeks  ago  took  on  a  lace- 
like  mantle  have  allowed  almost  all  of  it  to  fret 
away.  We  had  a  cold  snap  due  to  a  mighty  wind 
— from  the  east  of  course,  we  know  no  others — 
and  the  water-pipes  froze,  the  man  not  having  kept 
a  proper  fire. 

I  am  writing  from  the  new  library  where  I  have 
been  making  my  seat  this  year.  But  it  is  sometimes 
cold. 


129 


Percival  Lowell 


LOWELL  OBSERVATORY 
FLAGSTAFF 

A  letter  came  just  (Sat.)  now  from  Professor 
Chant  who  was  so  pleased  with  the  Saturn's  Rings 
Memoir  that  he  wanted  an  article  on  it  for  the 
Journal  of  the  R.  A.  S.  of  Canada — Eheu!  Also 
several  nice  letters  about  it  from  other  people. 

LOWELL  OBSERVATORY 
FLAGSTAFF 

You  were  here  at  just  the  right  season.  You 
could  not  walk  abroad  now  or  go  anywhere;  snow 
3  feet  2  inches  on  the  level!  The  whole  plateau 
is  eiderdowned  while  the  sky  is  an  intense  sapphire. 
— This  morning  I  found  and  photographed  the 
tracks  of  jack-rabbit  and  coyote.  Also  took  pict- 
ures of  Curtis  on  his  skis.  Curtis  informs  me  that 
a  Belgian  rabbit  had  escaped  from  mill  town  and 
he  thought  some  of  the  tracks  were  that  animal's. 

The  deep  blue  sky  almost  as  sparkling  as  the 
snow  gives  one  the  feeling  of  being  exposed  to  outer 
space.  A  most  singular  method  of  clearing  oc- 
curred last  night.  After  12  inches  of  snow  had 
fallen  the  sky  made  show  of  opening  up,  then  hesi- 
tated and  finally  after  sundown  began  slowly  to 
emerge  to  the  northeast  between  Elden  and  the 
Peaks  and  so  roll  back  the  clouds  to  the  S.  W. 
During  which  a  surface  west  wind  blew.  The 
Zodiacal  Light  was  conspicuous  and  the  stars  very 
brilliant  though  really  blurred. 


130 


An  Afterglow 


MAES'  HILL 

It  does  one  good  to  hear  pleasant  things.  It  is 
like  a  ray  of  sunshine  on  a  stormy  day.  So  I  must 
needs  forsooth  sit  right  down  and  thank  you.  The 
rest  of  the  letter  was  also  good  to  read.  The  same 
mail  brought  a  request  from  the  far-off  Philippines 
for  Macmillan's  latest  books  on  Mars,  etc. — from 
a  friend  of  my  friend  Mason  of  Yokohama  who 
had  piloted  him  in  astronomy.  It  is  good  to  mark 
the  spread  of  knowledge  like  the  ripples  from  a 
stone  thrown  upon  the  water,  voyaging  ever. 

We  have  just  sent  you  a  big  storm — I  have 
marked  its  progress  right  across  the  continent.  It 
gave  us  a  foot  of  snow — on  top  of  thirty  inches 
already.  I  hope  it  wasn't  too  disagreeable.  We 
are  now  enjoying  ( ?)  another  and  sat  up  some  time 
last  evening  with  a  temporary  convalescing  sky  to 
some  slight  profit. 

A  jack-rabbit  now  inhabits  the  Observatory 
grounds.  I  have  twice  flushed  him  from  his  pre- 
cious night's  couch  in  the  hollow  under  the  crest 
that  overlooks  the  mill;  and  twice  failed  in  snap- 
shotting him  with  my  camera.  Coyote  tracks  are 
in  evidence  everywhere  but  I  have  not  seen  the 
beasts  in  the  flesh. 

Our  Saturn  studies  progress ;  we  have  missed  but 
one  night  since  I  arrived,  though  two  of  the  others 
have  not  been  much.  Curtis  snow-shoes  every- 
where and  I  enclose  a  shot  I  took  of  him  measuring 
the  depth  of  the  snow  just  under  the  west  hill  where 
you  found  one  of  your  arrowheads. 

131 


Percival  Lowell 


MARS    HILL 

Two  pictures  go  in  this:  one  of  Curtis  on  his 
skis,  the  other  of  the  home  of  a  jack-rabbit  we  are 
getting  to  know  quite  well.  He  nipped  off  the  lower 
buds  of  some  of  the  fruit  trees  of  Dr.  Slipher's, 
the  naughty  one,  and  I  have  twice  seen  him.  He 
lives  over  near  the  south  ridge.  I  have  an  uncom- 
fortable feeling  that  I  wrote  this  and  sent  you  his 
picture  before.  No  matter.  Give  the  second  to 
whoever  likes  it.  Ditto  Curtis. 

Today  was  to  be  despatched  a  series  of  Halley's 
comet  which  it  will  please  you  to  look  at ;  also  some 
Saturns. 

This  season  has  beaten  all  others  here  for  snow. 

MARS'  HILL 

Now  here  is  a  little  surprise  for  you.  Yesterday 
I  sallied  forth  on  to  the  mesa,  hunting,  with  my 
camera.  When  I  reached  the  likely  place  for  Mr. 
Jack  I  got  everything  ready  to  snap  at  once.  Fol- 
lowing some  of  his  recent  tracks  I  had  got  to  the 
bluff  by  the  old  dead  log  overlooking  the  Normal 
School  and  was  standing  there  when,  I  suppose 
the  motion  caught  my  eye  and  I  was  aware  of  a 
rabbit  just  issued  from  behind  and  below  a  rock 
where,  as  it  evidently  appeared,  he  must  have  spent 
the  night.  I  snapped  and  on  the  click  he  started 
down  hill  revealing  himself  a  cottontail!  Behold 
him! 


132 


An  Afterglow 


MAKS    HILL 

Admirable  program,  that,  for  the  exhibition, 
which  your  letter  well  outlines! 

Snow,  snow,  snow !  You  never  saw  anything  like 
it.  Mr.  Lampland  thinks  we  must  have  slipped  our 
latitude  and  I  am  sure  the  Pole  has  moved.  A 
blinding  blizzard  this  morning  almost  worthy  of 
Dakota. 

Yesterday  Mr.  E.  C.  Slipher  and  Mr.  Gill  as- 
cended the  Peaks  as  far  as  the  edge  of  the  Alp  on 
skis.  Mr.  Slipher  reported  the  snow  on  it  as  at 
least  seven  feet  deep.  His  ski  pole  would  not  touch 
bottom.  He  saw  a  cottontail  just  below  the  open- 
ing, the  highest  point  yet  for  a  cottontail. 

On  their  way  out  in  the  morning  they  flushed  a 
jack-rabbit  just  this  side  of  the  40  inch.  Moi  aussi 
in  the  middle  of  the  day  started  one  by  the  bend  of 
Wolf  Canon.  I  had  just  crossed  over  the  ravine 
from  the  lynx  hole  and  was  standing  looking  round, 
considering  the  spot  as  probably  untenanted  of 
jacks  when  suddenly  from  the  very  nearest  pine 
not  fifteen  feet  from  me  up  jumped  a  jack  which 
I  could  have  seen  perfectly  had  I  only  looked.  I 
snapped  him  as  he  ran  and  am  now  going  to  see  if 
I  have  him  on  the  film.  That  is  the  way  to  find 
them.  Walk  through  little  pines  and  stop  every 
now  and  then.  It  is  only  when  you  stop  that  they 
start. 


133 


Percival  Lowell 


LOWELL  OBSERVATORY 
FLAGSTAFF 

It  arrived  bearing  its  fill  of  good  wishes  and 
what  an  imposing  box  it  was,  and  how  beautiful 
within  with  its  bark  and  blue  bows.  Two  houses 
in  fact!  What  munificence!  Nothing  could  have 
been  more  appropriate ;  for  my  birthday  practically 
begins  the  spring  and  the  birds  return.  Thank 
you  all  so  much.  They,  the  houses,  shall  be  set  up 
forthwith.  Where?  that  is  the  question.  When 
placed  they  shall  be  photographed  and  you  all  be 
sent  a  copy.  With  my  appreciative  thanks  to  each 
member  of  the  quartette  I  am 

MARS'  HILL 

The  snow  is  going;  going  fast.  One  can  now 
walk  in  oases  of  ground  with  portages  between.  It 
silently  sublimates  chiefly;  though  there  are  also 
rivulets  here  and  there. 

The  houses  for  the  birds  were  duly  put  up  this 
morning  and  are  now  to  let.  We  allowed  the  beau- 
tiful blue  bow  on  the  little  one  to  remain  fluttering 
to  advertise  that  desirable  property  to  prospecting 
tenants.  When  these  arrive  I  shall  notify  you 
again.  Meanwhile,  as  the  real  estate  broker,  allow 
me  to  present  to  the  kind  givers  my  appreciation 
of  these  excellent  family  residences. 


134 


An  Afterglow 


MARS    HILL 

A  perfect  galaxy  of  delight  welcomed  me  in  the 
mail  yesterday  noon, — the  young  men  bring  the 
mail  up  after  their  midday  meal.  I  know  not 
whether  it  is  their  breakfast  or  dinner — and  by  the 
time  they  get  back  here  again  it  is  noon  only  by 
courtesy,  being  between  two  and  three.  In  this 
galaxy  shone  forth  a  letter  and  a  fat  bunch  of 
clippings.  So  I  seem  to  have  sold  into  the  coming 
society  set  so  to  speak,  and  shall  have  a  welcome 
pass  to  the  stage  entrance  of  the  finest  theatre  in 
Boston!  Well!  Well!  I  wonder  who  financed 
the  enterprise,  but  I  congratulate  her  and  it.  Thank 
you  for  thus  making  me  at  home  in  Boston  while 
at  home  out  here. 

It  is  really  spring. — What  is  more,  I  do  not  re- 
member ever  having  noticed  the  birds  here  so  much 
before.  The  twittering  and  calls  of  the  robins  in 
the  heavy  air  resurrect  the  springs  of  long  ago,  a 
thing  unparalleled  in  this  seasonless  land.  It  is 
very  lovely  in  the  twilight  while  I  wait  outside  the 
dome  for  Mr.  Slipher  to  finish  measuring  his  set. 

Not  only  for  the  clippings, — a  good  one  that 
from  the  Herald.  My  friends  the  Times  appar- 
ently haven't  yet  got  round.  They  had  an  editorial 
the  other  day  on  our  latest  Saturnian  find ;  but  also 
for  the  books,  another  star  to  the  galaxy,  am  I  be- 
holden. 


135 


Percival  Lowell 


MARS    HILL 

Wood-betony  in  flower  now  all  over  the  place. 
And  the  house  bulbs  are  in  fine  show.  Lots  of  sun- 
flowers in  the  plain  at  the  bottom  of  Clark's  Gulf, 
northeast  of  the  house.  Snow  only  in  the  most  shel- 
tered retreats  faint  and  few. 

Even  the  Alp  on  the  peaks  is  now  only  patched 
with  what  was  seven  feet  deep  on  the  level. 

LOWELL  OBSERVATORY 
FLAGSTAFF 

Please  send  us  the  best  and  biggest  pumpkin 
seed  and  seeds  of  the  weirdest  and  most  extraordi- 
nary gourds  you  can.  The  crop  thanks  you  in  ad- 
vance  


136 


An  Afterglow 


LOWELL  OBSERVATORY 
FLAGSTAFF 

We  all  think  the  type  and  printing  of  the  memoir 
beautiful.  It  has  such  a  large  minded  and  open 
face,  and  the  several  points  are  so  well  made  by 
line  isolation. — I  shall  return  one  copy  when  I 
have  given  it  sufficient  mulling. 

Today  I  went  out  to  ascertain  whether  my  oak 
on  the  mesa's  edge  westward,  was  yet  in  flower.  It 
was  not  and  was  a  little  behind  the  other  oaks  in 
the  swelling  of  its  buds.  On  the  way  I  studied  the 
butterflies.  The  Cotias  eurytheme,  Ariadne  and 
Keewaydin,  were  everywhere.  I  never  saw  such 
numbers  of  them  before — Ariadne  and  Keewaydin 
are  the  winter  forms  of  the  species  Eurytheme. 
Then  there  were  the  little  EucHloe  sara  and  the 
tame  Hesperia  xanihus,  beautifully  mottled  in 
black  and  white.  Daisies  studded  the  ground  about 
me  as  I  studied  their  visitors.  The  paint-brush 
leaves  are  up  but  no  brushes  as  yet.  The  season  is 
very  backward  although  the  last  three  days  here 
have  been  typical  Arizona  summer  ones,  and  ev- 
erything now  should  come  on  apace  unless  we  have 
a  setback. 

The  Sigillum,  a  capital  idea,  is  now  under  uni- 
versal consideration — and  in  process  of  complete 
evolution. 

The  exodus  eastward  will  probably  occur  on  the 
25th  inst.  or  possibly  the  27th. 


137 


Percival  Lowell 


LOWELL  OBSERVATORY 
FLAGSTAFF 

Yesterday  there  turned  up  an  elderly  gentleman 
from  Milwaukee  who  was  greatly  interested  in  the 
work  here.  I  did  not  see  him  myself  but  Mr. 
E.  C.  S.  described  his  enthusiasm  in  glowing  terms. 
He  wanted  a  collection  of  the  work  for  a  museum  in 
Milwaukee  of  which  he  is  trustee,  or  something. 
He  knew  Bessel,  etc.,  years  ago.  He  came  back  in 
the  evening,  not  having  had  enough  in  the  after- 
noon, and  went  wild  with  delight  when  he  found 
he  could  see  the  canals  in  the  Mars  photographs. 
He  said  he  would  come  down  from  Milwaukee  to 
see  us  if  we  would  let  him  know  when  we  were  in 
Chicago. 

A  bevy  of  girls  I  saw  round  the  sundial  while  I 
was  breakfasting;  from  the  Normal  School,  I 
think,  and  one  of  them  was  an  Indian  lass.  Just 
saw  a  lot  more — You  see  what  a  lodestar  it  is ! 


138 


An  Afterglow 


LOWELL  OBSERVATORY 
FLAGSTAFF 

Today  I  have  been  delivering  an  address  of  wel- 
come to  the  Good  Roads  Association  which  was 
well  received.  Several  people  kindly  spoke  of  it 
afterward.  Tomorrow  Judge  Doe  and  I  go  pic- 
nicking northeast  of  the  Peaks. 

The  season  is  later  this  year.  One  year  ago  to- 
night the  Professor  and  I  arrived  from  the  Petri- 
fied Forest,  and  the  color  was  all  gone  from  the 
Peaks ;  now  they  are  still  a  blaze  of  glory. 

I  am  just  back  from  motoring  in  the  red  car  to 
beyond  Dead  Man's  Flat,  north  of  the  Peaks  in 
quest  of  Junipers.  Mr.  Lampland  drove.  Mrs. 
Lampland  sat  beside  him,  with  Judge  Doe  and 
me  behind.  Except  that  it  was  blowing  up  for  a 
storm  ari3  that  the  wind,  going  out,  raised  clouds 
of  dust  and,  coming  back,  was  a  small  hurricane, 
all  went  well.  I  found  what  Professor  Sargent 
wanted  of  me,  to  wit,  whether  the  color  of  the  ber- 
ries of  J.  mouosperma  was  variously  both  red  and 
blue  or  not.  They  are  both.  Also,  I  learnt  other 
details  of  this  tree.  The  Judge  went  armed  to  the 
teeth  with  both  a  rifle  and  a  shotgun  but  though  we 
saw  rabbits,  both  cottontails  and  jack,  he  never  got 
near  enough  for  a  shot.  The  painted  desert  glowed 
opalescent  in  the  distance. 

The  banquet  of  the  board  of  trade  of  Flagstaff  to 
the  Good  Road  Assn.  last  evening  was  very  suc- 

139 


Percival  Lowell 


cessful  and  the  food  surprisingly  good  at  the  Com- 
mercial. 

The  aspen  on  the  south  and  north  sides  of  the 
mountain  still  golden  in  patches. 


140 


An  Afterglow 


LOWELL  OBSERVATORY 
FLAGSTAFF 

Thank  you  for  your  letter  just  come  and  for  the 
sympathy  in  it  if  "it  is."  The  news  came  to  us  in 
a  day's  ago  wire  from  the  2V.  T ' .  T.  to  know  if  we 
had  heard  of  the  new  comet  discovered  by  Sola. 
That  it  was  a  planet  we  had  no  inkling  till  I 
opened  your  letter.  So  far  the  news  is  so  vague 
that  we  have  no  hint  where  to  look  for  it. 
Pisces  is  large.  If  Sola  is  right  in  saying,  or  being 
quoted  as  saying,  that  it  has  a  rapid  retrograde  mo- 
tion, it  cannot  be  a  far  planet. 

On  Wednesday  last  Mr.  Lampland  and  I  went 
in  the  red  car  juniper  hunting  with  success  and 
pleasure.  We  started  down  the  old  Cosnino  road, 
to  the  edge  of  Turkey  Hill's  mesa  and  thence  to 
Winona  and  beyond.  The  berries  in  the  latter  spot 
.on  J.  utahen&is  were  something  to  make  one  stare. 
They  covered  the  branches  in  solid  masses,  outdo- 
ing grapes  by  100%.  I  never  saw  such  fruit  pro- 
fusion. When  the  prints  of  my  photographs  dry 
you  shall  have  a  faint  idea  of  what  we  saw. 

We  also  bagged  a  J.  megalocarpa  berry  16  mm. 
across  (1  inch=25.4  mm.) .  Judge  Doe  meanwhile 
was  speeding  in  his  car  and  trailer  Kirkland  wise 
to  bag  quail. 

Today  quite  a  snow-storm  on  the  Peaks,  practi- 
cally the  first.  It  is  a  late  and  warm  season,  for, 
five  years  ago  on  Oct.  12  when  I  ascended  the 


141 


Percival  Lowell 


Peaks  and  down  on  the  other  side,  I  glissaded  there 
60  ft.  at  a  stride. 

Now  last  Sunday  there  was  no  snow  on  the 
North  slope  and  of  course  none  toward  us. 


142 


An  Afterglow 


LOWELL  OBSERVATORY 
FLAGSTAFF 

One  tree  is  certainly  unknown,  at  least  in  Amer- 
ica— a  tree  cistus.  Like  the  ones  on  the  mesa  but 
20  ft.  high  and  40  inches  around. 

Thank  you  for  your  news  of  the  "Soul"  and  for 
sending  me  the  enclosed.  Such  things  do  one  good. 

CONGRESS  HOTEL 
CHICAGO,  ILL. 

In  Chicago,  not  ill.  Found  a  letter  awaiting  me 
from  Fox,  in  which  he  says :  "I  have  been  very  much 
interested  in  your  proposal  to  found  a  medal  for 
the  Astronomical  Society,  and  I  do  hope  that  you 
will  carry  it  through,"  etc. 

Also :  "I  have  been  on  the  point  of  writing  to  you 
to  see  if  some  arrangement  might  not  be  made  for 
showing  your  Boston  exhibit  of  astronomical  pho- 
tographs in  Chicago.  I  think  the  Art  Institute  in 
Chicago  would  be  glad  to  give  space  for  such  a  pur- 
pose, but  I  have  made  no  definite  inquiries.  I 
should  of  course  have  been  happy  to  look  after 
things  at  this  end  but  I  fear  now  that  I  will  have 
to  forego  even  that."  Because  for  a  fortnight  he  is 
at  the  Evanston  Hospital, — an  accident.  He 
should  before  long  be  recovered,  I  hope  and  judge. 

Snowing  here. 

Got  reply  from  Gurnett,  12 :25  your  time.  Only 
sent  mine  10:15  ditto.  Quick  work.  If  anything  im- 
portant he  can  wire  me  en  route. 


143 


Percival  Lowell 


LOWELL  OBSERVATORY 
FLAGSTAFF 

The  train  was  on  time  at  Houck  and  Chambers, 
and  then  it  proceeded  to  lose  and  lose.  A  collision 
near  San  Bernardino  started  the  delay,  and  then  a 
three  days'  snow-storm  completed  it.  We  simply 
crawled  into  Flag,  an  hour  and  a  half  late  to  find 
50  inches  of  snow  on  the  level  by  Dr.  Slipher's 
metro- department  gauger.  Dr.  S.  was  there  to 
meet  us  having  come  down  on  Billy.  The  snow  was 
within  a  foot  of  Billy's  back.  Impossible  to  get  up, 
we  went  to  the  Commercial,  after  having  taken  an 
interminable  time  to  get  out  of  the  train  for  the 
snow-drift.  The  staff  managed  to  break  a  way  for 
us  up  the  hill  next  afternoon,  and  here  we  are.  It 
is  the  first  time  the  Observatory  has  ever  been  cut 
off  from  downtown  communication.  So  heavy  was 
the  weight  of  snow  that  the  Opera  House  collapsed 
and  is  now  a  mass  of  ruins.  Some  other  buildings, 
also,  lay  down  but  nobody  has  been  hurt.  Judge 
Doe  in  his  twenty-nine  years  here  has  never  seen 
the  like. 

Nevertheless,  we  observed  last  night  and  with 
success.  Our  important  observations  on  Mars,  in 
strict  accordance  with  theory,  have  been  tele- 
graphed to  you.  On  Saturn  also  we  gleaned  re- 
sults. The  right  side  of  the  Crepe  ring  is  still 
wider  than  the  left,  which  is  interesting.  We  move 
about  on  the  hill  much  as  if  we  were  in  the  trenches. 


144 


An  Afterglow 


LOWELL  OBSERVATORY 
FLAGSTAFF 

This  is  to  welcome  you  and  to  say  "bravo."  A 
good  idea  taking  Mr.  O.  It  gives  him  added  in- 
terest and  acquaintance  with  other  astronomers. 

My  last  word  with  Prof.  F.  was  a  promise  to  lee- 
true  before  the  Academy  on  my  return,  in  April. 
You  can  find  out,  if  you  will,  what  they  would  most 
care  to  hear  about. 

LOWELL  OBSERVATORY 
FLAGSTAFF 

Pictures  are  all  we  are  capable  of  making  now; 
for  we  have  had  no  decent  observing  weather  since 
the  6th.  It  has  snowed  and  sulked  and  snowed 
again,  and  now  for  a  change  it  is  raining.  I  am 
glad  it  is  that  and  not  more  snow,  for  it  helps  get 
rid  of  the  latter,  and  much  of  the  last  bad  weather 
has  been,  I  think,  due  to  the  unconscionable  amount 
of  evaporation  of  that  first  mighty  fall. 

Like  Oliver  Twist  I  look  forward — only  he  did 
not  look  forward,  poor  chap,  but  only  wished  for 
more — from  what  you  glean  on  your  travels. 

Jacks  abound;  their  bounds  being  printed  in  the 
snow,  though  being  snowbound  myself  from 
walking  I  have  seen  none  of  them. 


145 


Percival  Lowell 


LOWELL  OBSERVATORY 
FLAGSTAFF. 

Those  were  certainly  ten-strikes!! 

The  letter  enclosed,  too,  was  excellent.  Various 
other  bright  points  appeared  simultaneously.  In 
short  a  galaxy,  yesterday  afternoon!  One  of  them 
from  Prof.  Fox,  I  send.  Good  things  are  grega- 
rious, as  are  also  bad.  It  was  a  re(a)d  letter  day. 

Please  send  one  of  my  Memoir  No.  2,  on  Saturn's 
Rings,  to  Sir  Napier  Shaw,  10  Moreton  Gardens, 
S.  W.,  London,  England,  with  my  regards  on  my 
card. 

Did  I  send  you  our  photographic  record  of  the 
change  we  announced  in  Saturn?  If  I  did,  another 
copy  in  Boston  will  be  good.  The  change  is  even 
greater  to  the  eye,  probably,  because  the  red  in  the 
color  screen  lets  through  the  reddish  tint  and  makes 
the  ball  seem  brighter  than  it  is,  that  part  outside 
of  the  south  cap. 

Please  get  some  copies  of  the  Times  editorial. 


146 


An  Afterglow 


LOWELL  OBSERVATORY 
FLAGSTAFF 

I  am  glad  your  Florida  trip  was  so  enjoyable, 
and  I  thank  you  for  the  elephant  in  the  shape  of  a 
live  cocoanut  that  arrived  here  safe  and  sound — a 
truly  marvellous  beast  to  come  by  mail. 

Will  you  see  that  there  await  me  at  the  Congress 
Hotel,  Chicago,  where  I  expect  to  arrive  April  24 
— lantern  slides  of  the  memoir  drawing  of  Saturn, 
the  table  there  and  the  rings  asteroid  plate?  Also 
any  other  Saturn  or  Mars  slides  suitable  for  my  lec- 
ture in  Chicago,  and  another  in  Toronto. 

After  warm  balmy  weather  we  are  now  today 
plunged  into  another  snow-storm. 

For  your  delectation  and  that  of  all  Martians  of 
the  staff,  I  enclose  a  print  of  a  recent  photograph 
of  the  planet. 

LOWELL  OBSERVATORY 
FLAGSTAFF 

The  first  horned  toad  made  his  appearance  near 
the  pumpkin  patch  on  the  28th  and  the  first  hya- 
cinth flower  on  the  29th.  Now  we  are  enjoying  ( ?) 
a  northeast  blizzard,  great  wind  and  with  snow. 

After  the  lecture  in  Chicago,  on  to  Toronto  to 
lecture  there  on  April  27.  On  the  28th  to  New 
York  for  a  couple  of  days  and  so  to  Boston. 


147 


Percival  Lowell 


LOWELL  OBSERVATORY 
ELAGSTAFF 

With  regard  to  the  exhibit  I  have  just  wired  you. 
Here  endeth  the  second  lesson.  Now  we  will  sing 
a  hymn  about  Mr.  H.'s  good  work.  I  am  enclos- 
ing you  his  measured  drawing  of  the  detail  he  saw 
in  the  photograph  I  sent  you.  Excellent! 

To  you  goes  also  that  capital  little  clipping  about 
the  planetary  intercommunication  prize,  explana- 
tory why  Mars  was  excluded.  Complimentary  but 
premature ! 

I  have  decided  to  give  an  ambulance  to  the 
County,  and  also  I  am  buying  today  a  Ford  for  im- 
mediate fitting  out  of  Professor  Sargent,  who  ar- 
rives tomorrow,  in  his  botanic  trips  and  for  general 
use  thereafter. 

I  suddenly  just  now  on  a  walk  flushed  or  rather 
saw,  my  attention  roused  by  a  slight  sound,  a  coyote 
shackeled  by  one  of  our  traps.  Two  weeks  ago  this 
trap,  set  for  a  coyote,  disappeared  and  nothing  had 
been  heard  from  it.  I  turned  instinctively  and 
there  was  a  large  brown  coyote  shambling  along 
dragging  a  trap.  It  was  in  the  little  valley  just  this 
side  of  the  outer  Southern  ridge  of  the  home  place. 
I  started  after  him  and  found  he  could  go  nearly 
as  fast  as  I  could.  So  I  made  for  the  shop,  roused 
the  men  and  we  in  posse  went  to  surround  the  little 
copse  on  the  second  rise.  We  failed  to  find  him 
there.  So  I  left  for  the  house  after  a  slight  detour 
west  and  on  my  way  flushed  a  jack-rabbit — the 
first  I  have  seen  this  year — squatting  in  the  low 

148 


An  Afterglow 


furze.  He  had  the  biggest  ears  I  think  I  have  ever 
seen.  So  to  lunch.  While  at  lunch  a  telephone 
from  the  shop  came  saying  they  had  caught  the 
coyote.  And  there  he  was,  to  be  sure.  He  is  now 
not  far  from  my  window  in  a  cage.  On  the  way  to 
the  shop  I  roused  a  horned  toad.  Quite  an  event- 
ful morning!  The  coyote  has  been  already  photo- 
graphed. 

Last  evening  there  was  a  great  serenade  from  the 
coyotes  just  outside  the  upper  gate  which  is  where 
the  traps  are,  and  I  suspected  one  had  been  caught; 
but  those  traps  are  entire,  so  that  it  was  the  one 
we  had  supposed  lost.  Poor  chap,  I  pity  him  but 
I  pity  the  jack-rabbits  more. 


149 


Per  rival  Lowell 


KING  EDWARD  HOTEL 
TORONTO 

Everything  successful.  The  slides  came  in  to  me 
from  all  sides.  Yes,  the  telegram  was  unnecessary, 
— a  dead  loss  as  against  a  live  fulfilment — as  al- 
ways. The  lecture  went  off  well,  apparently. 
They,  headed  by  Prof.  Chant,  are  making  my  visit 
delightful.  The  president  of  the  University,  Dr. 
Faulkner,  is  also  charming. 

A  pleasant  lunch  with  the  Harvard  Club  just 
over  and  a  dinner  with  a  few  select  astronomers  to- 
night. 

LOWELL  OBSERVATORY 
FLAGSTAFF 

Mr.  Godfrey  Sykes  turned  up  this  morning 
preparatory  to  going  to  England  because  he  can't 
go  to  Australia.  We  had  a  long  chat  and  he  is  re- 
turning this  afternoon  to  show  me  some  rock  on 
which  chemical  action  by  nature  has  altered  the 
stone  since  it  was  pictographed ! ! 


150 


An  Afterglow 


MABBLEHEAD,  MASS. 

The  Northwest,  you  will  be  glad  to  hear,  is  bom- 
barding me  with  epistles,  and  I  am  lecturing  on 
paper  from  my  armchair  in  moderation. 

BOSTON 

The  breath  of  the  woods  with  which  my  arrival 
was  welcomed  at  the  office  this  morning  was  good 
to  get.  I  am  here  for  the  noonday  hours  only  and 
that  by  accident;  accident  taking  the  form  of  my 
tailor  from  London.  So  I  am  up  to  order  clothes 
for  next  winter  of  a  seemingly  impossible  thickness 
now.  And  yet  they  will  not  be  thick  enough  when 
the  time  comes.  English  stuffs  never  are.  The  en- 
voy calls  himself  Mr.  Judge,  so  he  ought  to  know. 

The  bush  we  knew  not  what  to  call  is  now  hang- 
ing, but  not  dangling,  its  berries  nearly  black.  The 
tansies  are  now  superb,  and  the  goldenrod  is  gold- 
ening. 


151 


Percival  Lowell 


WARLAND,  MONTANA 

So  far  admirable  adventure.  Found  Thompson- 
Seton  at  Glacier  Park  studying  sign  languages. 
Interesting.  Taken  by  President  Hill  of  the  Great 
Northern,  who  turned  up  and  heard  we  were  there, 
in  his  car,  to  see  Two  Medicine  Lake,  etc.  He  was 
most  kind  and  attentive.  We  dined  with  him  that 
evening.  I  met  all  the  officials  of  the  road  and 
Hill's  charming  children. 

SPOKANE 

Addressed  two  high  schools  this  morning.  Never 
saw  such  beautifully  appointed  centres  of  instruc- 
tion. Fourteen  hundred  students  in  the  one,  six- 
teen hundred  in  the  other.  Now  about  to  lunch 
with  the  Harvard  Club  who  have  been  seeing  me 
round  their  chief  members. 


152 


An  Afterglow 


THE  NEW  WASHINGTON  HOTEL 
SEATTLE,  WASH. 

Pullman  apart  from  the  lecture  was  a  pull-man 
show  between  the  freshmen  and  the  sophs ;  and  be- 
ing the  chief  contest  of  the  day  officially  appointed 
for  their  struggle,  the  day  I  was  there,  the  result 
being  the  pulling  the  freshmen  into  the  pond  be- 
tween the  contestants.  Intellectually  they  were 
willing,  but  slow!  about  three  hours  astronomically 
behind  Eastern  Time.  Golder  was  as  good  as  gold. 
Another  good  man  was  the  professor  of  mining  and 
metallurgy,  a  man  of  intelligence.  The  president 
of  the  University  of  Idaho  came  over  for  us  in  an 
automobile,  and  the  vice-president,  I  believe  he  was, 
drove  us  the  scenery  way  to  Moscow, — low  rolling 
bare  hills  where  except  for  the  absence  of  trees  car- 
ried one  back  to  northern  Vermont.  The  president 
was  a  man  of  the  world  who  had  studied  at  Woods 
Holl  and  was  witty  as  well  as  wise.  They  seemed 
to  appreciate  the  lecture,  and  a  luncheon  followed — 
I  sat  on  the  right  side  of  a  lady  dean. 

Back  to  Spokane — pronounced  can — and  over 
the  Cascade  Range  here.  B.  is  one  of  ours.  A  man 
to  be  pleased  with.  He  wants  to  be  able  to  send 
students  to  the  observatory  at  Flagstaff  and  to 
come  himself  in  the  summer. 

Last  night  I  made  the  Sigma  Xi  sit  up  and  take 
notice. 


153 


Percival  Lowell 


SHASTA,  CALIF. 

This  card  shows  as  near  as  I  came  to  Crater 
Lake.  Shasta  was  really  a  fine  sight,  and  carried 
me  back  to  my  entrance  examination  at  Harvard, 
when  we  were  asked  "Where  is  Shasta?"  in 
geography. 

PORTLAND,  OREGON 

So  far!  Lectured  this  morning  at  Reed  College. 
Have  not  yet  seen  Mt.  Hood;  so  you  see  more  than 
I  have.  Portland  old  and  quaint  looking.  I  like  it. 

EUGENE,  OREGON 

A  nice  tree-lined  streeted  place,  and  very  nice 
scientists  who  have  just  given  me  a  luncheon  from 
which  I  am  now  recuperating  prior  to  the  taking 
them  out  into  the  Solar  system  at  3  P.  M. 

Lectures  seem  to  have  gone  off  well. 


154 


An  Afterglow 


SAN  FRANCISCO 

Here  at  last!  to  find  many  letters.  I  am  de- 
lighted with  the  way  the  Providence  exhibit  is  ex- 
hibiting itself.  The  Providence  people,  however, 
seem  to  be  doing  it  up  Brown — Their  arrangements 
are  most  satisfactory. 

Tomorrow  a  dinner  at  Prof.  Leuschner's — He  is 
the  man  at  the  head  of  the  orbit-computing  work 
at  Berkeley,  probably  the  one  in  the  United  States. 
I  hear  Campbell  of  the  Lick  is  to  be  there.  The 
next  day  to  Leland  Stanford  where  we  dine  with 
Prof.  Peirce  and  the  President. 

Mr.  Lampland  has  sent  me  so  many  books  on  the 
chance  that  I  shall  simply  stagger  into  Flagstaff 
under  the  load. 

Crater  Lake  I  had  to  miss — but  my  eyes  have 
been  opened  to  what  is  and  what  is  not  in  the  Pacific 
States.  Shasta  was  fine  and  so  would  have  been 
its  surroundings  if  only  man  had  let  it  alone.  Dear 
old  Flag,  loses  nothing  by  contrast. 


155 


Percival  Lowell 


SAN  FRANCISCO 

Thank  you  for  these  capital  clippings.  Provi- 
dence is  certainly  doing  its  part. 

Last  evening  a  dinner  at  Prof.  Leuschner's — 
President  and  Mrs.  Wheeler,  Professor  and  Mrs. 
Campbell  of  the  Lick,  Prof,  and  Mrs.  Leuschner, 
and  then  a  crowded  hall  in  which  I  told  them  all 
"just  how  it  was." 

Now  for  Palo  Alto  and  then  Flag. 

Lick  and  Berkeley  have  now  reached  the  very 
respectful  stage,  shown  by  their  distinguished  con- 
sideration of  the  Martian  ambassador.  One  could 
not  expect  more  of  mere  mortals  educated  in  the 
Martian  dark  ages. 

Clippings  enclosed — for  which  and  their  well- 
conducted  cause  I  am  appreciatively. 


156 


An  Afterglow 


LOWELL  OBSERVATORY 
FLAGSTAFF 

I  am  delighted  that  you  had  so  good  a  trip — a 
trip  without  a  trip — to  Barns  table,  Provincetown, 
Newport  and  New  York. 

A  little  one  Mr.  Lampland  and  I  are  contemplat- 
ing for  tomorrow — to  Sycamore  Canon  to  get  the 
willow  which  Rehder  did  not  get,  and  of  which  Prof. 
Sargent  wanted  slips.  The  Tour  of  the  new  North 
West  Passage  is,  thank  heaven,  over  though  it  did 
me  no  harm  and  I  think  otherwise  did  good.  The 
University  of  Washington  has  written  most  ap- 
preciative letters  about  the  new  Mars  Fellowship. 
The  Berkeley  and  the  Stanford  University  lectures 
seemed  to  go  off  successfully,  as  did  the  ones  before 
them.  Yesterday  I  dispatched  you  a  bunch  of  clip- 
pings for  the  album — about  them  all.  That  they 
will  eventually  prove  to  have  been  fruitful  drop- 
pings to  wear  away  the  stony-intellected,  as  much 
as  such  a  thing  is  possible,  I  hope  and  to  have  been 
thus  not  in  vain. 

There  is  still  a  very  little  aspen  gold  low  down 
upon  the  Peaks  and  a  sprinkling  of  snow  high  up. 
Of  the  latter  there  was  more,  they  tell  me,  a  short 
time  ago.  The  pumpkins  lie  gathered  in  heaps.  We 
did  this  yesterday  for  there  was  a  sharp  frost  the 
night  before  and  they  cried  out  for  blankets,  against 
the  cold.  There  look  to  be  enough  for  humpty- 
humph  cartloads. 

157 


Percival  Lowell 


I  got  several  measures  of  Jupiter's  Vth  Satel- 
lite last  night,  and  am  well  pleased  with  the  per- 
formance considering  the  seeing,  which  began  well 
but  timidly  ran  off  after  we  had  got  well  started. 


158 


An  Afterglow 


LOWELL  OBSERVATORY 
FLAGSTAFF 

Expedition  yesterday  to  Sycamore  Canon  for 
the  willow  a  complete  success.  Found  at  once,  and 
a  bunch  of  cuttings  secured  for  the  Arboretum 
which  will  be  dispatched  to  Prof.  Sargent  tomor- 
row. You  shall  see  on  my  return  our  specimens 
before  they  go  out  there  for  embalming. 

Please  send  me  as  soon  as  convenient  selected 
bulbs  that  they  may  be  planted  this  autumn — hya- 
cinths, crocus,  tulips  and  anything  noteworthy.  The 
idea  has  just  occurred  to  me  again  so  I  hasten  to 
write. 


159 


Percival  Lowell 


FLAGSTAFF 

Thank  you  for  the  N.  Y.  Times  of  Oct.  18.    Of 

course  I  did  not  say  that  the  Martians  were  human 
beings:  quite  an  contrcdre,  as  you  know  from  the 
lecture  in  question,  "Mars:  Forecasts  and  Fulfil- 
ments." You  had  best  deny  it  when  it  comes  up.  I 
have  sent  Mr.  Miller  a  denial  and  a  copy  of  the  lec- 
ture to  use  to  that  effect. 

LOWELL  OBSERVATORY 
FLAGSTAFF 

I  did  not  know  that  the  enclosed  from  the  Public 
Ledger  came  to  you  or  I  should  have  written  you 
about  it.  If  you  think  wise  you  can  write  H.  B.  B. 
that  the  Canals  have  always  been  considered  by  the 
Lowell  Observatory  to  be  strips  of  vegetation  and 
that  the  intelligence  there  has  never  been  said  to  be 
human  or  thought  to  be. 


160 


An  Afterglow 


LOWELL  OBSERVATORY 
FLAGSTAFF 

Universities  from  Texas  to  Maine  now  want  lec- 
tures but  enough  is  as  good  as  a  feast. 
Sleet  and  snow  yesterday ;  blue  sky  today. 

NOTE. — This  letter  was  written  and  posted  the  day  before 
Dr.  Lowell  passed  away,  Nov.  11,  1916. 


161 


Percival  Lowell 


Dying,  saw  his  life  a  thing 

Of  large  beginnings;  and  for  young 

Hands  yet  untrained  the  harvesting, 

Amid  the  iniquitous  years  if  harvest  sprung. 

So  in  his  death  he  sowed  himself  anew; 

Cast  his  intents  over  the  grave  to  strike 

In  the  left  world  of  livers  living  roots, 

And  banyan-like, 

From  his  one  tree  raise  up  a  wood  of  shoots. 

The  indestructible  intents  which  drew 

Their  sap  from  him, 

Thus  with  a  purpose  grim, 

Into  strange  lands  and  hostile  yet  he  threw, 

That  there  might  be 

From  him  throughout  the  earth  posterity: 

And  so  did  he — 

Like  to  a  smoldering  fire  by  wind-blasts  swirled- 

His  dying  embers  strew  to  Jdndle  all  the  world. 

Yet  not  for  this  I  praise 
The  ending  of  his  strenuous  days; 
No,  not  alone  that  still 

Beyond  the  grave  stretched  that  imperial  Will. 
But  that  Death  seems 
To  set  the  gateway  wide  to  ampler  dreams. 
So  to  the  last 
A  visionary  vast, 

The  aspirant  soul  would  have  the  body  lie 
Among  the  hills  immovably  exalt 

162 


An  Afterglow 


As  he  above  the  crowd  that  haste  and  halt, 

"Upon  that  hill  which  I 

Called  'View  of  All  the  World' "; 

There  let  him  cease  from  breath, — 

Alone  in  crowded  life,  not  lonelier  in  death. 

FRANCIS  THOMPSON, 


163 


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